The Maltese ( Malteser )

Brought to Austria and Southern Germany in 1850 from upper Italy.The Maltese pigeon is a radical departure from the common type of pigeon in that it stands high on straight legs, has a very long slender neck and a short tucked up body

The bird should be very tall,with a short hard compact body and not so heavy as to mar the elegance or its figure nor its grace.it should carry its head high and when driving throw its head backward almost to its tail. An ideal specimen should stand fifteen or more inches in height.Eyes are somewhat deep set, whites to have bull eyes,the other colors to have orange eyes.Whites to have red eye ceres;blacks and blues damson cere;reds,yellow,duns, and silvers flesh colored cere.Beak is stout and of medium length,with the upper beak slightly bent.In blacks and blues the beak should be black. In all other colors the beak should be flesh colored,the wattle should be smooth and powder white.The neck is very long and carried erect, as nearly the same thickness as possible until approaching the shoulder.Breast should be relatively wide in proportion to overall appearance and carried high showing good  depth of keel.Belly to be short and round , rump to be well developed and feathered,the body should appear cubed not long and cylindrical. Back is short and moderately broad, horizontal and with slight elevation at rump.Flights are very short,lying close,carried well up, wing butts prominent and projecting slightly outward at breast. Flights to meet at center of tail with slight crossing permitted.Thighs to be powerful and long and should show as much as possible, very closely feathered. legs below the hock to be straight, very long, free of feathers, joints not be bent ,toes to be long and set well apart.Plumage is short and closely fitting.