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PIGEON-FANCIER:

— ope Rx Teer TISE
ON
DOMESTIC PIGEONS:

: ‘CONTAINING :

Ff

THE NATURAL ‘HISTORY OF PIGEONS.—DESCRIPTION AND

MAN AGEMENT OF ALL THEIR VARIOUS SPECLES.—DI~’
SKASES AND REMEDIES,—INSTRUCTIONS FOR STOCK«
ING AND MANAGING A PIGEON-HOUSE.-~LAWS
RELATIVE TO. PIGEONS, eee &e.

a

s ‘The whole being ~

AN ‘USEFOT, INSTRUCTIVE, AND COMPLETE

ay ore ao PRADO PARA OLAS

9 rene an

_ By DANIEL GIRTON, Esa.
ae an eee ‘County — as

3 =

A. NEW EDITION,

_ and Complete Brro-Fancrer, and the GaRpener’ s CALENDAR.
= Embellished with .

Correct Portraits of Twelve of the most choice Pigeons, acawe from
_ Life; and, also, the improved Pigeon-Houses and Nest-Appa-

pee by Dr. Dicason, copied, by Permission, frox =

‘ es Live Stock: wk ae ca ee ai

“‘onvon: : |
PRINTED FOR rT, KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER-ROW. |

pe . ey One Shilling.] oe

NEW AND. COMPLETE a8 uy, ; : a:

aun and improved by Mn. W. THOMPSON, “Author ¢ of the New

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PIGEON-FANCIER:
_ | | OR,
4 MODERN TREATISE
eae ee oN
DOMESTIC PIGEONS:

CONTAINING

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PIGEONS.—DESCRIPTION AND
MANAGEMENT OF ALL THEIR VARIOUS SPECIES.—DI-
| SBASES AND REMEDIES.—INSTRUCTIONS FOR STOCK-
ING AND MANAGING A PIGEON-HOUSE.—LAWS
- RELATIVE TO PIGEONS, &c, &c.

The whole being
AN USEFUL, INSTRUCTIVE, AND COMPLETE

GUZDE 2O PIGBOSPaARLIP OL. IRS)

By DANIEL GIRTON, Ese. ~
| Bo Of the County of Bucks. = ~ -

A NEW EDITION, igh
Revised and improved by Mr. W. THOMPSON,” Author of the New
and Complete Birp-Fancier, and the GaRDENEX’s CALENDAt.

Embellished with *= 9.

Correct Portraits of Twelve of the most choice Pigeons, drawn from —
Life; and, also, the improved Pigeon-Houses and Nest-Appa-
ratus, by Dr. Dickson, copied, by Permission, from —
his Live Stock and Cattle-Management. _

-

Wondson :
cE PRINTED FOR T. KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER-BROW.

[Price only One Shilling.]

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*FRANCISCVS DARWIN +

W. HILL, Printer, Bank-street, Maidstone.

Cambridge University Library,

PREFACE.

Amonest the various domestic -animals, kept either
forthe service or pleasure of mankind, there are few
that have more’ admirers than Piaeons; those pleas-
ing companions. of a leisure hour being kept by per-
sons almost of every situation: in life. The Author,
therefore, in order to render this new Treatise as com-—
plete as possible, has, after consulting the works of all
the modern and most approved writers in this valuable
branch of literature, with great labour and expense
compiled a most useful, entertaining, and instructive,
Natural History of Pigeons; which, though a very
essential article, has been wholly untouched, or but
very superficially handled, by every preceding
writer on this subject. a

There is, also, in the course of this little work, every
piece of necessary information relative to the choice,
breeding, and management of ail the various species
of domestic pigeons known in England. The interest of
those who keep and breed these birds to supply the mar-
ket, hasbeen particularly considered, and every useful
method pointed out for their advantage and benefit.

The most indefatigabie pains have been taken on
the present Edition, which, having been carefully:

L

iv PREFACE,

revised, embraces every modern discovery, and seve.
ral valuable improvements and additions, All the dis-
tinct species of these domestic birds are accurately de-
scribed, their defects clearly laid open, and their true
properties justly fixed ; their various disorders attended
to, and the most safe efficacious methods of cure pre-
scribed; and, to render the whole complete and per-
fect, the assistance of the Engraver has been called in
who, from the most correct drawings, has presented the
reader with the best set of engravings that ever appear-
edin a book of this kind.

Sage

CONTENTS.

THE Natural History of Pigeons = Sea

The Common Pigeon, or dove ..seeeeceenerees
The Stock- Dove, or Wood-Pigeon ...eseeeeees
"The Hitio-dove 3c 0.0.3 Sas Vole a Fed unas
eS CtStEIVE > Sete p< vss aoe eek ane Seis a5
The English Powidt O20 1) ORMENNA ts OM 12
The Dutch Cropper ..... reer eon ae ares « 16 NF
The Powting Horseman... 2.0.0... c00 see eres eget a
The Uploper £0... 00sec ses ce ws as er ramets. net Ha
“The Parisian Powter... ...: cmiaes toa Oe ik > aa
ee CAIeT coe as cs pik - eg Spe ona 18
WWE HOVCI co aces race tue ses +. jee os oe *15
Tite Daggett ef... cee ote ss GS ET ecrigeies 16
The Taenet . ae Fabien k cee cae ee
The Bald-Bated Tumbler. Bar ii Rape: kgek nae teree 32
The Black, or Blue-Bearded Tumbler ........ 19
The Almond, or Ermine Tumbier ..... Ree ee }
meee Datei MRE Se ae ec «only ois os eo os
The Spanish Runt....... PEE OS ETL ee
The Runt of Friesland ..... ts <5 ncaa eas
ane STUNNDCCES «sa ws ee oe a tee vee
te os 3 Gs eves ts de cin ns a puieepee ee eS
The eo: ot \ the eee Reet CE Cees
The Nun... ee oe ‘
- The Helmet A A pe :
The Jacobme <3, rere
Sec AN dee OS ee Perak oss oh ieee
ae Putetl . ws eee ‘

RR in a a TE vey a
The os ns Se gia Ge och aa kk ais
The Finnikin . SE, Ea eee

sk a eh on Re ee , 36

Vi CONTENTS.

The Broad-Tailed Shaker, or Fan-Tail

The Narrow-Tailed Shaker

The Barbary, or Barb

The Mahomet, or Mawmet

The Lace Pigeon

The Frill-Back

The Smiter

The Chinese Pigeon

The Indian Turtle

The Turtle, or Aldrovandus

Turtle of Kernandez, or Cocotzin

The Greenland Pigeon

The Picui Pinima

gue Dexica® rivedn SS... |

The Ring-Tailed Pigeon of Jamaica

The Bald-Pate Pigeon of Jamaica

Directions for building a Pigeon- House

Directions for stocking a Pigeon-House,
Dove-Cote, and the Management of Pigeons 45

Rules to know a Cock from a Hen ............48

Instructions for coupling or matching Pigeons 48

Directions for erecting Lofts for Pigeons ,....... 49

The Diet proper for Pigeons ........... ress O2

Diseases of Pigeons, and how cured .....«..

Remarks on the keepers of Pigeons ......

Laws relating to Pigeons

The best Methods for preventing Pigeons from
leaving their Habitations .

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THE
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PIGEON-FANCIER.
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The Natural History of Pigeons.

THE pigeon has, from its great fecundity, been, 9 some

measure, reclaimed from a state of nature, and taugat to live
in habits of dependence. It is true, indeed, its fecundity
seems to be increased by human assiduity ; since those
pigeons that live in their native state, are not near so fruitful
as those in the pigeon-houses. The power of increase in most
birds, depends not only upon the quantity, but also the quality
of their food ; consequently, the tame pigeon is more prolific

than the wild: the latter usually perch upon trees, and are_

seldom seeh on the ground: they breed in woods, sea rocks,
&e, All the birds of the pigeon kind, except the dove or
common pigeon, build like rooks in the highest branches of
the forest, and make their situation as remote as possible from
man.
Pigeons will live eight years, but they are only prolific fo

the first four years ; afterwards they are worth nothing; for

when they are ence past that age, ull they do is, to prevent
the profit that might be reaped by others that are younger.

The pigeon lays two white eggs, which produce young
ones in different sexes. When the eggs are laid, the female
sits fifteen days, not concluding the three days she is employed
in laying, and is relieved at intervals by themale. The turns
are generally pretty regular. The female usually sits from
about five in the evening till nine the next morning ; at which
time the male supplies her place, while she is seeking refresh-
ment abroad. Thus, they set alternately till the young are

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8 NATURAL HISTORY OF PIGEONS.

hatched. Ifthe female does not return at the expected tire,
the male seeks her, and drives her to the nest; and should he
in bis turn be neglectful, she retaliates with equa! severity.
When the young ones are hatched, they only require warmth
for the first three days; atask which the female takes entirely
upon herself, and never leaves them, except for a few minutes
to take a little food. After this they are fed about ten days,
with what the old ones have picked up in the fields, and kept
treasured in their crops, from whence they satisfy the cravin
appetites of their young ones, who receive it very greedily.

This way of supplying the young with food from the Crop,
in birds of the pigeon-kind, differs from all others. The
pigeon has the largest crop of any bird, for its size; which
1s also quite peculiar to the kind. In two that were dissected
by an eminent anatomist, it was found that, upon blowin

or
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the air into the wind-pipe, it distended the crop or gullet to
an enormous size. Pigeons live entirely upon grain and
water: these being mixed together in the crop, are digested
in proportion as the bird lays in its provision. Young
pigeons are very ravenous, which necessitates the old ones to
lay in a more plentiful supply than ordinary, and to give it

a sort of half maceration im the crop, to make it fit for their
tender stomach. The numerous glands, assisted by air, and
the heat of the bird’s body, are the necessary apparatus for
secreting a milky fluid; but as the food macerates, it also
swells, and the crop is considerably diiated. If the crop
were filled with solid substances, the bird could not contract
it, but it is obvious, the bird has a power to compress its
crop at pleasure, and by discharging the air, can drive the
food out also, which 1s forced up the gullet with great ease.
The young usually receive this tribute of affection from the
crop three times a day. The male for the most part feeds
the young females, and the old female performs the same
office for the young male. While the young are weak, the
old ones supply them with food macerated suitable to their
tender frame ; but, as they gain strength, the parents give it
less preparation, and at last drive them out, when a craving
appetite obliges them to shift for themselves : for when pi-
geons have plenty of food, they do not wait for the total dis-
mission of their young; it being a common thing to see young

THE COMMON PIGEON OR DOVE 9

ones fledged and eggs hatching at the same time and in the
same nest.

Though the constancy of the turtle-dove is proverbial, the
dove-house pigeon 18 not so faithful, and, having become

subject to man, putson incontinence among its other do-

mestic qualities. Two males are often seen quarreling for
the same mistress ; and when the female encourages the free-
doms ofa new gallant, her old companion shews visible marks
of his displeasure, quits her company, and never approaches
except to chastise her. ; Many instances have been known,
when two males, being dissatisiied with their respective mates
have thought fit to make an exchange, and have lived in peace
and friendship with the new objects of their choice. So rapid
is the fertility of this bird in its domestic state, however in-
credible it may appear, that, from a single pair, fourteen'thou-
sand seven hundred and sixty may be produced in the space
of four years. The stock-dove, however, very rarely breeds
oftener than twice a year ; for, as the winter months approach,
their whole emyloy. is for self-subsistence, so that’they can-
not transmit a progeny. But their attachment to their young
is much stronger than in those which often breed. This is

wing perhaps to. their affections being less divided by so
great a number of elaims..

Pigeons are very quick of hearing, have a very sharp sight ;
and, when pursued by the hawk or kite, and obliged to exert
themselves, are exceedingly swift in flight. It is the nature
of pigeons to assemble in flocks, as they love company, to
bill in their courtship, and to have a plaintive note. :

THE COMMON PIGEON, OR DOVE.

This pigeon weighs about thirteen ounces ; from the tip’ of
the bill to the end of the tail, it is thirteen inches long: and
the wings, when extended, twenty-six inches broad. The
bill is slender, pointed, and soft; rather white above the
nostril, but the rest brown. ‘The tongue is sharp and soft ;
and the iris of the eye of a yellowish red. The fore part of
the leg is covered with feathers, as far as the toes, aud the
feet and toes are red, with black nails. The head is of a

BQ

10 THE STOCK-DOVE, OR WOOD-PIGEON,

blueish ash-colour, and the neck is adorned with variable
shining feathers. The part over the crop is redish, but the
rest of the breast and belly, are of an ash-colour. The lower
part of the back is white, but ash-coloured near the shoul-
ders; the rest is black with a few shades of ash-colour.
There are twenty-three large feathers in each wing, of which
the outermost are brown, and the others blackish at first
sight. The feathers that cover the first, are large ; ten large
ones of the wings are of a darkish ash-colour, and the points
of the rest, almost as far as the body, have their inward webs
near their shaft ash-coloured, but the outermost are black.
The under-part of the wings, towards the roots of the great
feathers are very white; and the tail consists of twelve fea-
thers four inches and a half long; but those in the middle
area little longer than the rest, and the tops of all are
black. The two outermost below, are black and white on
the external side of the shaft; the rest are all ash-coloured,
but a little darker above. The crop is large, and the female
has a shriller cry than themale. The varieties produced by
pairing amale and female of different sorts, are both nume-
rous and beautiful. This species of pigeon is easily brought
to build in artificial cavities, and readily submits to the
subjection of man. It retains its native colour fora long
time, and is more variegated in proportion, as it removes
from the original simplicity of its colouring in the woods.

The dove-pigeon breeds every month; but, when the
weather is severe, and the fields covered with snow, it must
be supplied with food : at other times it may be left to itself
It generally repays the owner for its protection.

THE STOCK-DOVE OR WOOD-PIGEON.

From this species all the beautiful varieties of the tame
pigeon derive their origin, and have the English name of
Stock-Dove, it being the stock or stem of the other domestic
kinds. This birdis of adeep blueish ash-colour; the breast
dashed with a fine changeable green and purple; the sides
of the neck with shining copper colour: the wings are
marked with two black bars, one of the quill feathers, and

THE RING DOVE, &c. TT;

the other on the coverts. The back is white, and the tail is
barred near the end with black. Itis larger than the com-
mon piveon; but the shape of the body is the same, nor is the
colour much different. The changes in their feathers are
occasioned by different lights. They are more glossy, and
sometimes appear purple, sometimes green.

THE RING-DOVE..

This pigeon is much larger than the stock-dove, and may
in general, be distinguished from all others by its size; it
builds its nest with dry sticks in the branches of trees. Many
attempts have been made to render it domestic, which have
always proved abortive, by setting their eggs under the tame
pigeon in dove-houses ; but, as soon as they could fly, they fy
always returned to their state of nature. As soon as winter wl
begins, they assemble in large flocks in the woods, and leave |
off cooing, which note of courtship they do not resume till the
entrance of spring, which renews their desires, by supplying
them with food, and which they continue to practise till the
approach of winter; it weighs nearly twenty ounces, measure
eighteen inches in length, and thirty in breadth.. The head,
back, and coverts of the wings are of a blueish ash-colour ;
the under side of the neck and breast are of a red purple mixed
with ash-colour: round the neck, near the back-part of the
head, isa semi-circular line of white, (hence the name of ring-
dove,) above and ‘beneath which the feathers are bright and
glossy, and of changeable colours as opposed to the lght.

The belly-is ofa light straw-colour, the large quill-feathers
are dusky, and the rest of an ash-colour, except the bastard
wing, underneath which isa white stroke pointing downwards.

) THE TURTLE-DOVE.

This isa smaller, but a much shyer, bird than any of the
pigeon kind ; it frequents the west of England during the
summer months, breeding in thick woods, generally of oak :
it is easily known from the rest by the iris of the eye, which

B 3

12 THE ENGLISH POWTER.

is of a bright yellow, and_a circle that surrounds the eye-lids,
which is of a beautiful crimson colour. The top of the head
is ash-colour, interspersed with olive, the chin and forehead
white; there is a spot of black feathers on each side of the
neck curiously tipt with white: the back is ash-coloured
with a tincture of olive brown: the scapulars and coverts of
a redish brown, spotted with black: the quill-feathers of a
dusky brown, the breast of a light purplish red, the ex-
tremity of each feather is yellow: the sides and inner coverts
of the wings are blueish, and the belly white. The length
of the tail is three inches and a half, has two feathers in the
middle of a dusky brown ; the rest are black delicately tipt
with white: the end and exterior side of the outward fea-
thers are wholly white. It is a bird of passage, and does not
stay in our northern climates during winter. They come
over here in large flocks in the summer to breed, and though
they delight in open mountains and sandy countries, yet they
build their nests in the middle of the thickest woods, choosing
the most unfrequented places for incubation. They feed
upon all sorts of grain, but the millet-seed is their favourite
repast. This pigeon commonly measures twelve inches and
a half in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail ;
and when. the wings are extended, the breadth is twenty-one
inches. Some naturalists affirm, that this bird lays its eggs
twice a year; and, if this assertion may be depended on, which
is very probable, as it is a bird of passage, it is once when it
visits us in the summer, and once when it migrates to some
climate in winter.. The turtle-dove is the symbol of
ity and constancy ; and a pair being putin a cage, ifone
die, the other seldom survives. The male and female usually
fly together, and if she lose her mate, she will pme away.

THE ENGLISH POWER.

This pigeon derives its name from being originally bred in
7 . ; So J
England, and isa cross-breed between a horseman and a crop-
per; and frequently pairing their young ones with the crop-
per, which bas rendered this bird more beautiful, and raised
iis reputation among the fanciers.

THE ENGLISH POWTER. : 13

From the point of the beak to the end of the tail, this bird
measures eighteen inches: it has a fine shape and hollow back:
sloping off taper from the shoulders, for when it has a rise on:
the back, itis termed hog-backed ;. the legs, from.the toe-nail.
to the upper joimt in the thigh, is: seven inches. The. crop.
ought to be large and circular towards the beak, rising behind
the neck, so as to Cover and run neatly off at the shoulders..
Thetcolours most esteemed are the blue-pied, black-pied,.red-.
pied, and yellow-pied. All these properties rise in value, ac--
cording as they agree with the above description; for example;
if the blue-pied and. black-pied be possessed of the other quali--

ties, the black-pied, on account of. the plumage, will be the

most valuable pigeon, and if the yellow-pied have these marks, i tes
it will be far preferable to any.. The following is the manner | #
in which a powter ought to be pied, according to the fancy of E

the best judges. The front of the crop should be white, en--
circled with ashining green, interspersed with the same colour
with which he is: pied, but the white should. not reach.the back
of the head, for then he is ring-headed. There should be a.
patch, in the shape of a half-moon, falling upon.the chop of
the same colour, with which be is pied, and.when thisis wanted,.
he is called swallow-throated. The head, neck,.back, and
tail, should preserve a uniformity of colour; and ifa blue-pied
pigeon, he should have two black streaks or bars near the end:
of both wings: but if these chance to be of a brown colour,
it greatly diminishes. the value of the bird, and he is then.
termed kite-barred. When the pinion of the wing is speckled
with white, in the form of a rose, it is called a rose-pinion, and
is highly esteemed, though it 1s a great rarity to find any one
complete in this. property ; -but, when the pinion has a large
dash of white on the external edge of the wing, he is said to
be bishoped or lawn-sleeved, as the fanciers term it. They
must not be naked about the thighs, nor spindle-legged, as
some of the powters formerly were before the breed was_im-~-
proved; but their legs and thights must be stout and. straight,
and well covered with white soft downy feathers: but,.when-
ever it happens that the joints.of the knees, or any part of the
thigh, is tinged with. another colour, he is foul-thighed.. If
the nine-flight feathers of the wing be not white, he is foul-
flighted, and when only the extreme feather of the wing is of

ra THE ENGLISH POWTER.

the same colour with the body, he is called sword-flighted.
The crop of the powter ought to be filled with wi ind, 80 as
to shew its full extent with ease and freedom; for it is a very
great fault when a bird overcharges his crop wit h wind, and
strains himself so mach, that he sparetimies falls backwards,
because he is not able to give a quick vent to the confined air,
which makes him disquiet and heavy: and many a fine bird
has, by this ill habit, either fallen inte the street, down a
chimney, or become an easy prey to the cats. The reverse is,.
being loose-winded, so that he exhibits so small a crop as to
appear to as little adv vantage as an ill-shaped runt. A powte:
should play erect, with a fine well spread tail which must
not touch the around, nor sink between his legs, neither must
it rest upon his rump,.which is a great fault, aid is called
rumping. He shouid draw the shoulders of his s wings close
to his body; weenie his limbs without straddling ig, and to
walk almost upen his toes, without jumping or kicking, as is
the manner of the uploper, but moving with an easy majestic
air.

The powter that approaches nearest all these € properties is a

very valuable ans and some fanciers, by a patient. per-
~ severance, and great expense, have bred’ these birds so near
the standard prescribed, as to sell them for twenty guineas a
pair.

These pigeons make avery striking appearance on the out
side of a building; though the favourite sort are seldom per-
mitted to fly, for fear of “the accidents already mentioned, on
account of their crops, par ticularly: those that! are apt to over-
charge themselves with wind.

There’ isa great deal of trouble, time, and expense, ee
for breeding and rearing young pow ters for they require a
vast deal of atte ndance, as every single bird, cocks as well as
hens, must be parted during the winter season, and placed in
a separate pen or coop; each of them must be su pplied with
meat and water, and care taken that the coop be lofty and
spacious, that they may not get an il-habit of stooping, which
is so great an imperfection, that it must be aes by all
possible means. In the spring, when you match them, pre-

pare yourself with two pair of dragoons to every pair of pow-
ters, for feeders or nurses; for these who are bultdus in the

ME ee

THE ENGLISH POWTER. %

fancy, never suffers powters to hatch their own eggs, as they
are such unfeeling parents, that, if left to themselves, they
would frequently starve their young ones. The dragoons
must be kept in a loft separate from the powters, for fear EE
they should degenerate and bastardize the breed ; but, when 3 te
the hen-powter has laid her egg, it should be shifted under ie.
a dragoon that has also lately laid an egg, and the egg of the
dragoon put under the powter; it being very proper the pow-
ter should have an egg or eggs to sit upon, or she wil! quickly
lay again; and this, often repeated, will be the cause of her
death. Very great caution must be observed, and that in due
time, to prevent these birds from gorging, which the large

cropped ones are apt to do, and is often the occasion of their |
death, )

A great deal of time must be spent upon them, to make
them tame and familiar; for the powter should be used to
company, and frequently attended, chuckled and talked to,
during the winter, in a phrase which the fancies are well
acquainted with, stroaking their backs, and also clacking to
them, as a hen does to her chickens, or they will become shy,
and lose one of their properties, for which they are so much
admired, which is called shewing ; this would make the best
of them appear to great disadvantage, and which caused a.
judicious fancier to remark, that powters were birds more
peculiarly suited to watch-makers, cobblers, weavers, and
such trades only as worked in the same room where they
were kept, that the lower class of fanciers may converse and
familiarize them, without lavishing that time which should be
occupied in providing for their families.

The expense of raising ashew of powters is sometimes very
great; for a fancier may begin with half a dozen pair of these
birds, and in a short time be obliged to buy more, or be
forced to exchange some of his best birds for worse, in order
to cross the strain; for he must not breed them inand in, that
is, coupling the brother and sister, or father and daughter,
or any other consabguineous connection, as the breed would
degenerate and be worth nothing. The above, and some
other inconveniences too tedious to relate, attend the training
of the powter; whereas the same number of almond-tumblers

!

16 THE DUTCH CROPPER.

would stock a fancier for life; for the breeding of tumblers
in and in, would only diminish the size of the breed, which is
a quality much coveted in them, and if supplied with meat,
water, and a little elean straw, they give uo further trouble.
The powter was formerly so much valued, as to monopolize
the attention of the faney in general; but sinee the almond-
tum biers are brought to such perfection, and for the other rea-
sons already given, the powter is now much neglected. Some
fanciers declare, that if tumblers were kept in separate pens,
and trained as the powters are, they would shew in the same
manner, and be equally familiar.

THE DUTCH CROPPER.

This pigeon was originally bred in Holland, and its make
seems to agree with the country from whence it came; the
body is thick, clumsy, and short, as are also the legs, which.
are feathered down to the feet: they have a large pouch or bag
hanging under their beak, which they ean swell with wind,
or depress at pleasure ; the crop hangs low, but is very large;
they are so loose-feathered on the thighs, as to be styled flag-
thighed; they seldom play upright, and stand wide on. their
legs; they are gravel-eyed, and such. bad feeders of their young
ones, that as soon as they have fed off their soft meat, it is
necessary to place their young ones wader a pair of small runts,
dragoons, or powting-horsemen, who will act the part of nurses
better tian their thoughtless parents.

There are a great variety of feathers in this pigeon, and the
Dutch are very careful in the breed of them; for when they
have fed off their soft meat, they place the yeang ones
under more tender nurses, and then put the eld ones in dif-
ferent coops for a month, feeding them with hemp, or rape-
seed, which makes them very fallacious, and then turning
them together, they breed pigeons with very good properties ;
but since the powter has been bred to such perfection, the
cropper is but lightly esteemed by the English fanciers, The
Dutch cropper is the most addicted to gorge of any pigeon,
especially if not regularly supplied with food and water.

TUE POWTING HORSEMAN, &c. i?
THE POWTING-HORSEMAN.

This is what the fanciers term a bastard-bred pigeon, and
is produced between the horseman and cropper ; and, agree-
able to the number of times that their young ones are bred
ever to the cropper, they have the appellation of first, se+
cond, or third breed; and the more frequent this method is
practised, the greater is the improvement the crop receives
from it. This breed of pigeons was formerly much encouraged,
in order to improve the strain of the powter, by making them
close thighed; though, it was the fire of the horseman’s ©
blood that caused them to rump; but since the strain of ie
powters is now brought to such a degree of perfection that ! i

practice is discontinued.

These are lively birds, being very full of mirth on the top
of a house, and, by frequently dashing off, are excellent
decoys for stray pigeons that have missed their way home,
which isa pleasing satisfaction to those who delight in the
fiying fancy. They are fertile breeders, and tender nurses,
alwaystaking great care of their young ones. Some of these
pigeons measure six inches anda half in legs; they are a
hearty spirited bird, and, only supply them with food, they
will give very little trouble. There are instances of these ne
birds coming home at twenty miles distance. :

THE UPLOPER.

This bird isa native of Holland, being originally bred
there; it nearly resembles the English powter in all its pro-
perties, only itis smaller in every respect ; ithas a very round ha
crop, in which it commonly hides its bill; it has small slend-
der legs, (this was the fault of the English powter till the late |
improvement,) with its toes short and close together, on which | ua
it trips so exactly, when walking, as to leave the ball of the :

foot quite hollow; it plays very upright, is close-thighed,
and it is the custom of this pigeon, on approaching the hen,
to leap to her with his tail spread; from hence the name of |
Upleper is derived, from the Dutch werd wplopen, to leap |
up. itis a great rarity to see any of these pigeons picd, they

REE RTT rm —

ig THE PARISAN PowTER, &t,

being generally all white, black, or blue. Since the English
powter has become such a favourite, there is little encourage-
ment given to the breed of this pigeon here, and indeed there
iso comparison to be made between them ; though it is said
that, in Holland, some of these pigeons have been sold for
five-and-twenty guineas a pair.

THE PARISAN POWTER.

This bird, though brought into England from Brussels, is
originally a native of Paris; it partakes of the same nature
as the English powter, though it is not so well made ; its
body and legs are short, it has generally a long but not a
large crop, and is thick in the girt. This bird is greatly ad-
mired for its plumage, which is very elegant, and peculiar to
this species only; every feather being streaked with a variety

of colours, the flight excepted, which is white; the more red

this bird has interspersed with its other colours, the greater
is the value set upon it; they are generally bull-eyed, or

gravel eyed, but it is a matter of indifference amongst the
fanciers which eye it hath.

cementless ed

THE CARRIER.

The carrier is a rather larger than most of the common-
sized pigeons; their feathers lie very close, even, and
smooth; their flesh is naturally firm, and their necks so long
and straight, that when they stand on their legs, they shew
an elegant gentility of shape, far exceeding most other pigeons
who, when they stand, cringe themselves up in an uncouth
manner. From the lower part of the head to the middle of
the upper chap, there grows out a white, naked, fungous
tesh, which is called the wattle, and is generally met by two
small protuberances of the same luxuriant flesh, rising on each
of the under chap: this flesh is always most valued when of a
blackish colour.

The circle round the black pupil of the eyes is commonly
of a red brick-dust colour, though they are more esteemed

THE CARRIER. 18

when of a fiery red: these are also encompassed with the same
sort of naked fungous matter, which is very thin, generally
of the breadth of a shilling, and the broader this spreads,
the greater is the value set upon them; but when this luxuri-
ant flesh round the eye is thick and broad, it denotes the.
carrier {0 be a good breeder, and one that will rear very
fine young ones. The pigeon-fanciers are unanimous in their
opinion, that this bird should be called “ the king of the pi-
geons,” on account of its graceful appearance, and uncommon
sagacity- They have attributed to the carrier the following
twelve properties; three in the head, three in the eye, three
in the wattle, and three in the beak.

The properties in the head consist in its flatness, straight-
ness, and length; for instance, when a carrier has a very fiat
skull, a little indented in the middle, with a long narrow head,
it is greatly admired; and if the reverse, it is termed bar-
rel-headed. ;

The eye of the carrier should be broad, circular, and of an
uniform appearance ; for if one part of the eye appear to be
thinner than another, itis a great imperfection, and is, called
pinch-eyed; but when the eye is equal and full, and free
from irregularities, it isa rose-eye, and is very valuable. Some
mention the distance which ought to be between the back of
the wattle and the edge uf the eye; butthisis not a property,
for when a carrier lives to be three or four years old, has a
broad eye, and a large wattle, they will join of course.

The wattle should be broad across the beak, short from
the head towards the point of the bill, and leaning a little
forwards from the head; forifit lie flat, it is in great disre-
pute, and is said to be peg-wattled, This has caused some
artful people, in order to impose upon the less knowing, and
increase the price of an imperfect bird, to ingeniously raise
the hinder part of the wattle, fill it up with cork, and bind it
in with fine wire, in so neat a manner as not to be easily de-
tected, particularly by those who want more skill and ex-
perience.

The beak of the carrier should be long, straight, and thick
though an inch anda half isa long beak, it must not measure
less than one inch and a quarter in length.

The straightness of the beak is a great addition to its length

€

14 THE CARRIER.

and ifit be the least out of shapein this respect, it is then termed
hook-beaked, and js lightly esteemed. It should also be thick,
and of a black colour, which is a great recommendation ; but
when it falls short in this particular, it is called spindle beaked,
which decreases its value. ;

The length and thinness of its neck are so eminent a mark
ofits elegance, as not to be passed over in silence; some call
this a property, and indeed it must be granted that it greatly
increases the beauty of this broad-chested bird, and more
especially so when the pigeen carries its head rather back-
ward, as it shews itself to a great advantage.

The plumage of this bird is generally either dun or black,
though there are also splashed, whites, blues, and pieds of
each feather: the dun and black agree best with the before-
, described properties; yet the blues and blue-pieds being
very scarce, are great rarities, consequently of great value,
though they are inferior in the properties ralating to the
above-mentioned feathers,

This species of the pigeon was originally bred at Bassora,
an ancient city of Persia, and from. thence transmitted to
Europe: they are called carriers, from having been used to
convey intelligence, by letters, from one city toanother, It
is from. their extraordinary attachment to the place of their
nativity, and more especially where’ they have trained
up their young, that these birds were employed in Several
countries as the most expeditious carriers, These birds are
first taken from where they were bred, to the place froin
whence they are to return, with intelligence. The letter,
which should be thin paper, must be gently tied under the
wing, in such a manner as not to incommode the bird’s flight ;
and it is then set at liberty to return, The winged messen-
Ser no sooner finds itself at large, than its love for its native
home influences all its motions. It immediately flies up into
the clouds, to an almost imperceptible height, and then, with
great certainty and exactness, darts itself by some unknown
intuitive’ principle towards its native spot, which is frequently
atthe distance of many miles, bringing its message to the
person to whom it is directed. By what visible means they
discover the place, or by what compass they are conducted
in the right way, is equally mysterious and unknown; but
it has been proved, by experiment, that they will perform a

THE HORSEMAN. #15
journey of forty miles in the space of one hour and a half;
which is a degree of dispatch three times sooner than the
swiftest four-footed animal can possibly perform. This me-

_thod of sending dispatches was in great vogue in the East,
and particularly at Scanderoon till very lately; Dr, Russel
having informed us that the practice is now discontinued, (His-
tory of Aleppo, p. 66). It was used there on the arrival of
a ship, to give the merchants at Aleppo a more expeditious
notice than could be devised by any other means.

In this country, these aerial messengers have been made
use of for a very singular purpose, having been let loose at
Tyburn, when the executions took place there, at the. mo-
ment the fatal cart was drawn away, to notify to distant friends
their shameful exit. They have, also, been made use of b
lottery-adventurers, to convey the first drawn ticket to friends,

_ waiting near lottery-offices, in a few minutes, at the west-end

of the town.

In order to train a pigeon for this purpose, take a strong -

full-fledged, young carrier, and convey it in a basket, or bag,
about half a mile from home, and there turn it loose : having
repeated this two or three times, then take it two, four, eight,

~ ten, or twelve miles, and so on, till they will return from the
most remote parts of the kingdom. For if they are not prac- |
tised when young, the best of them will fly but insecurely, _

and stand a great chance of being lost. Be careful that the

pigeon intended to be sent with the letter is kept in the dark,

and without food, for about eight hours before it is let loose.
when it will immediately rise, and turning round, as is their
custom, will continue on the wing till it has reached its home,

THE HORSEMAN,

It is a matter of great dispute, which remains undecided
amongst the fanciers, whether the horseman is an original pi-
geon, or whether it is not a bastard strain, bred between a
tumbler and a carrier, or a powter and a carrier, and so bred
over again from a Carrier; for it is certain the more frequent
this is performed, the stronger and more graceful the horse-
man becomes. There is a species of this sort brought from
Scanderoon, famous for the rapidity of their flight, and the

Pp tee cys sc Seas 7 : ae Sa REETeT
cd il hale SER Bie lnc th-'s. 2 oe eee, ome sae C2

Ar i hinting 8

6 THE DRAGOON.

vast distance they will go; which is the only incident that seems
to support the opinion that they are an original strain; but this
does not obviate the difficulty, for they may be bred after the
same manner at Scanderoon, and so imported into Europe.
This bird is in shape very like the carrier, only less in all
its properties ; its body is smaller, its neck shorter: neither
is there so much luxuriarit incrusted flesh upon the beak and
round the eye, so that the distance between the wattle and
the eye is much more conspicuous in this pigeon than in the
carrier. They arealso more subject to be barrel-headed and
pinch-eyed. This species of the pigeon are decorated with
a variety of colours; but the most distinguished are the blue
and blue-pieds, which generally prove the best breeders.
These pigeons, especially when young, should be regu-
larly made to fly twice a-day, and as they gain strength
‘should be let loose, and put on the wing, without any others
in company, and they will fly four or five miles distance m
.a few minutes, sweeping over a large circuit for an hour or
two: this is what the fanciers term going an end: this me-
thod is of essential service to them, especially when they are
in training for the homing use. These are the sort of pigeons
chiefly made use of in this country for the deciding of bets,
or the conveying of letters. The true genuine carriers are at
this time very scarce, and of too great value to be flown, ex-
cept the wager is very considerable. .

THE DRAGOON.

This pigeon was originally bred between a tumbler and a
horseman, and the ablest fanciers are unanimous in their opi-
nions, as to its being of a bastard strain, and that by frequently
matching their breed to the horseman, they will acquire great
strength and agility.

This pigeon is an excellent breeder, and makes a very
tender nurse; for which purpose they are frequently kept as
feeders for rearing of young powters, Leghorn runts, and some
other pigeons, who either breed so fast that they cannot
conveniently give their young ones due attendance, or
are destitute of that natural fondness, which is the charac-
teristic of this bird.

THE TUMBLER, 47

The dragoon is a lighter and a smaller made pigeon than
the horseman, and is said to be more rapid in its flight for ten
or twenty miles; nevertheless, if the horseman be well bred,
it will always distance them at a greater number of miles.
They should be flown and trained whilst young, in the same
manner as the horseman. © Amongst the several remarkable
instances of the celerity of the flight of this bird, there is one

“supported by undeniable testimony, of a dragoon that flew
from Bury St. Edmunds to London, which is seventy-six
miles, in two hours and a half.

THE TUMBLER.

This pigeon derives its name from an intuitive principle of
instinct peculiar to its species, which is their extraordinary
motions as they are rising in the air, and is effected by their
turning themselves over backward, much after the same
manner that an expert genius in tumbling performs what is
called the backspring. Some fanciers are of opinion that the
celebrated almond-tumbler cannot perform the manceuvre ;
but we are assured by a country gentleman, who is well
versed in the fancy, that they perform this motion with as great
alertness as any other tumbler. The tumbler is a very small
pigeon; its body is short, it has a slim neck, is very full-
breasted, with a short round head, and small spindle beak,
and the irides of the eyes should be of a clear pearl-colour;
indeed, if the tumbler be without any particular blemish,
there is no difference between it and the almond-tumbler,
except in the plumage.

These pigeons, by their flight, afford great satisfaction to

_ the bird-fanciers in general; for, besides the pleasure they
give by their tumbling, they will frequently rise to such an

amazing height in the air, as to be almost imperceptidle to |
the keenest eye; and there is one peculiar property belong- —
ing to them, that is, they will not ramble far, like thehorse-
man, but if géod birds, and familiarized to each other, will |

keep such close company, that a flight of a dozen may Le

covered with a large handkerchief. At this height, espe-

cially if the weather be warm and clear, they will continue

upon the wing for four or five hours upon a stretch; it. is.
aes

See ee
ne

18 THE TUMBLER.

reported that some well-bred pigeons of this sort have flown
for nine hours successively, when they have been up at their
highest pitch: the favourite sort seldom or never tumble
but when they are beginning to rise, or when they are coming
down to pitch.

This pigeon displays in its plumage an amiable and charm-
ing variety of colours, as reds, yellows, duns, blues, blacks;
whites silvers, and, in truth, a delightful composition of all
these colours interspersed with the white.

Tumblers should be kept in.a loft by themselves, and net
be suffered to have any connection with other pigeons; for
if they are once familiarized to fly with others, they will by
degrees drop their flight, when they perceive their company
scaling in the air beneath them ; and by this means lose one
of their best qualities, for which they are so remarkable.

\, Spare no expense in the purchase of one or two birds, that
have been used to high-flying, for they will be of infinite
service in training your young ones to be lofty soarers.
When the pigeons are well acquainted with their habitation,
turn them loose, and put them upon the wing once a day only,
and that without any other company ; a clear grey morning,
especially for young birds, is the properest time ; when after
having exercised themselves, and they are coming down,
strew a little hemp-seed, or rape and canary, to inveigle
them in, and then confine them for the rest of the day.
According to the observations of some fanciers, there are
particular times when a tumbler will take a more extraordinary
flight than usual; as for example, when she sits upon eggs,
and a short time after having fed off the soft meat; and al-
though there is no convincing reason to be assigned for this,
yet it has been repeatedly confirmed by ocular demonstration.
When crows, swallows, or other birds, are wantingly sport-
ing ata vast height in the air, this is another time when
tumblers will make a very extravagant flight, both for height
and length of time ; but this may be readily accounted for, _
there being always at such a time something jfredominant in
the temperament of the air agreeable to the genits of those
birds, that take pleasure in the upper regions of the atmos-
phere. The fancier should never let loose his tumblerson a
misty morning, or when there appears the least signs of -a

THE BALD-BATED TUMBLER, &c. Pg

rising fog, for by these means they are deprived of the sight
of their habitation, and many a good flight broke and lost.
High winds are also very detrimental to a flight of pigeons,
by forcing them too far from home, and causing them to stay
out all night; so that if they are not quite lost, they are
exposed to various accidents, particularly to the claws of
the cats. It should be a standing rule never to turn out a
hen-tumbler when she is with egg, she being generally sick
at that time, and very unfit to fly, so that she may drop
her egg, by her long flight, to the great prejudice of your
steck.

THE BALD-BATED TUMBLER.

: ‘

The plumage of these birds consists of great variety of co-
lours; they havea pearl eye,a white head, with a white flight
and tail, and are reckoned very good. fliers. When they all
drop in the air in fine clear weather, the contrast of the fea-
thers shows, if the distance be not too great, and they. make a
very pleasing appearance ; though»the blue ones have gained.
the greatest reputation for their lofty flights.

THE BLACK, OR BLUE-BEARDED
TUMBLER.

When the colours are ornamented with a long dash of white
reaching from the under-jaw and cheek, a little way down
the throat, these tumblers are thus distinguished 5; and when
this is well shaped, and they soar clear, in the flight, tail, &c.
they are very handsome birds.

THE ALMOND, OR ERMINE TUMBLER.

This bird, though by some called the ermine tumbler, is
generally known by the name of the almond-tumbler, but for
what reason the most experienced fanciers are at a loss to ex-
plain. {tis a very beautiful and valuable species, and de-
rived its origin from the common tumblers, (which it so nearly

20 THE ALMOND, OR ERMINE TUMBLER.

resembles in shape and make, as to render any description
unnecessary,) by being judiciously matched so as to sort the
feather ; to wit, yellows, duns, whites, blacks, black-grisled,
black-splashed, &c.; but, as these require a length of time,
they are not attainable without patience and perseverance;
however, when they are brought to a tolerable degree of per-
fection, they are esteemed by some as the greatest curiosity in
the whole fancy of pigeons. Though the ancient fanciers
have with one consent given the title of king of the pigeons
to the carrier, yet so great a favourite is the almond-tumbler
with the modern fanciers, that many of them are for trans-
ferring the title to the latter, on account of the superior beauty
ofits plumage. It must indeed be acknowledged that there
is nO comparison between the plumage of the two birds; but
at the same time we beg leave to remind those gentlemen who
are so very Sanguine in their opinion of this bird, that the true
genuine carrier did not obtain the title altogether from the
elegancy of its feathers, but from the uncommon sagacity
with which it is endued.

As it requires a good judgment and nice observation to be
acquainted with the qualities and perfections of this species,
soit must be acknowledged that they lie under some disad-
vantage, in not having their properties well understood by
the fancy in general; for their charming variety of feather
makes them exceed (in the opinion of some of the ablest
fanciers) every other fancy of the pigeon tribe. Some of these
birds are so magnificently elegant in their plumage, that the
rump, tail, back, and flight, have been compared to a bed of
the finest and best broken tulips that the imagination can
conceive, or to a piece of the best and highest polished Egyp-
tian pebble: for the more they are variegated in the flight
and tail, especially ifthe ground is yellow, the greater is the
value set upon them ; for those ofa fine bright yellow ground
have always the precedence of all other colours, it being a
colour the hardest to acquire, for you may breed twenty that
are light-grounded for one deep ground ; besides, the light-
grounded ones are for the most part wanting in yellow, both
in the tail and the flight, which of course decreases the value
of the bird; but a tail with a mixture of good black in it is
not despisable. To be complete in feather, the rump, back,
and breast must be variegated, and the flight not barred.

Tae

a
oe akinttiP

THE ALMOND, OR ERMINE TUMBLER. 21

There are some of these pigeons that are variously and cu-
riously intermixed with three colours only, that compose the
ermine or almond, as yellow, white, and black, but these are
very scarce. The almond-tumbler never arrives at his full
beauty of feather till it has moulted several times, and, what
is remarkable, it mcreases in beauty every year; but in the
decline of life, when it is very old, changes to a mottled,
splashed, or some other colour. )

Some fanciers advise the matching of a yellow, a splashed,
or black grizzle, with an almond, and by that means lay a
good foundation to heighten the colours: those of a black
colour, bred from almonds, are generally better shaped in the
- beak and head than the almonds themselves, and the tail and.
flight have frequently a strong glow of yellow: this colour
matches to analmond, promises to producea fine bird. They
often breed a pale yellow, or buff, and this colour is very
proper to match with such as are too high-grounded ; let it
be remembered, that the less ash or blue they have the better,
for sometimes a slight mixture of these colours will shew,
even when they have been carefully and well bred. There
are some that are ash-coloured, but these are lightly esteemed.

The properties of the yellow and black mottled tumblers
should coincide with those of the almond-tumbler, the plu-
mage excepted ; the former of these must have a yellow
ground, and a body mottled with white, with a yellow tail
and flight ; the latter must have a black ground, its body
also mottled with white, together with a black flight and tail.
Both of these two last-described fancies make exceeding
pretty birds, and are also very useful, especially when they
agree in their other properties, to occasionally intermix with
the almond. Several fanciers, after rejecting the foul-fea-
thered birds of this species, and judiciously coupling the
best coloured ones together, have brought them to a great
degree of perfection, and have been so satisfied for their la-
bours, as to continue no other but the breed of the almond-
tumbler, to the exclusion of all the other fancy birds.
Indeed, the elegant plumage of some of these birds baffles all
description, and nothing but the eye, or the pencil of an in-
genious painter, can do justice to their beauty.

‘

siliraleiaaennaiahtitetipletasatenintriinis
ST ae CTC et
gi i Hy

THE LEGHORN RUNT, &c.

THE LEGHORN RUNT.
This is a noble large full- bodied pigeon ; itis close feathered,
short in the neck, very broad-chested, and frequently mea-
sures seven inches and a quarter in the length of its legs ;
when it walks, it carries its tail raised up in the nature of
a duck’s, but hangs it down when he plays. It is goose-
headed and hollow-eyed, with a longer neck than any other
pigeon, which it carries bending after the manner of a goose ;
the eye isencircled with athin skin broader than that of the
Dutch tumbler, the beak is very short, with a small wattle over
its nostril, and the upper chap projects a little over the under.

The Leghorn runt is a much hardier bird than many fan-

ciers imagine, and breeds tolerably well, but they are bad
nurses, and ought net to be suilered to bring up their own
young ones ; therefore it is proper to shift their eggs under a
dragoon, orsome other tender nurse, in the same manner as dj-
rected for the powter, being careful to give them a young one of
some sort to take off their soft meat, and by this method they
_will succeed very well. The genuine breed is at present very
| scarce in this country, and what is remarkable of all the dif-
| ferent species of runts,is, that they increase in size till they
are three years old. The matching of them with the Spanish
‘runt greatly improves the size of the breed, and makes them
increase the faster; some of this sort, when brought to table,
have appeared as large as a pullet; and a certain veteran fan-
cier of credit has assured us, that he killed a hen of the Leg-
horn breed, that weighed two pounds eight ounces avoirdu-
pois weight.

As to their plumage, they are frequently of a grizzled
colour, ermined round the neck; but those most esteemed
are either red, white, or black-mottled. This species of the
runt is of greater value than any other kind of runts, though

‘there is a material difference in them, some of them being
very different birds, though natives’ of Leghorn. It was
originally bred in Pisa, a city of Tuscany, on the north of
Leghorn.

THE SPANISH RUNT.

This pigeon came originally from Spain, hence the name of
Spanish runt; itis ashort thick-legged, flabby fleshed, loose-

THE RUNT OF FRIESLAND ga

feathered bird, witha remarkable long body ; some of them ‘|
measuring twenty-three inches in length, from the apex of the

beak to theextreme end of the tail, and does not carry itself

so upright as the Leghorn runt. The feathers of this are so
uncertain, and of such a variety of colours, that a judgment
cannot be formed of the sort by the colour, though some of
the best are reported to be of a blood-red, or mettled colour.
This bird being so very short-leeged, is the cause of its break-
ing its eggs, by sitting. too heavy on them in the nest: to
remedy this misfortune, some put a pair of neat chalk or
ivory eggs into the nest, and by that means prevent the
bird’s sitting too heavy on the real eggs: others treat
them in the same manner as they do the Leghorn runt,
already described. There is a long-legged. pigeon, which
nearly resembles the Spanish runt, and is said to be brought
from their settlements in the West-Indies.

THE RUNT OF FRIESLAND.

This bird is a native of the United Province of Fries-
land ;.it is somewhat larger than a middle-sized runt, its
feathers are all inverted, and stand the wrong way: if this
pigeon has its fanciers, it must be because it is uncommon
and disgustful, for the bird really makes a frightful ap-
pearance; they are’ at present very scarce in this country.
There are several other kinds of runts, as the feather-footed
runtof Smyrna: it isa middle-sized pigeon with so many
feathers sprouting from the outside of its feet, as to have the.
appearance of small wings; some of these feathers measure
four inches and a halfin length; for this reason these birds
ought to be kept very dry and clean, or these long feathers on
the feet occasion their dragging their eggs or young ones out
of their nest. There is the large Roman runt, which is so
big and unwieldly, that it can scarcely fly ; also’ the common
domestic runts, which always compose that medley of pigeons
kept on purpose for the table, and are so very -common in
inn-yards and other places, as to need no description: these
last sort are good feeders, and make very useful nurses for the
better sort of pigeons. .

<a

24 THE TRUMPETER, &C.

THE TRUMPETER.

This pigeon is nearly as big as a middle-sized runt, and
very like it in shape and make ; its legs and feet are covered
with feathers; the crown ofits head is very round, like that
of the finnikin and nun, only it is larger, and the larger the
head is the more it is esteemed, as being usually more melo-
dious: it is in general pearl-eyed, and black-mottled as to

its feather; but the surest mark to distinguish a good trum-
peter, is the tuft of feathers which sprouts from the root of
‘the beak, and the larger this tuft grows, the greater is the
ivalue set upon the bird, the more fallacious it is, the more
‘it will trumpet: it derives its name from its imitating the
sound of a trumpet after playing, which it always does
jn the spring of the year, when that genial season returns,
which gives as it were a new life and vigour to the whole
creation : those who are fond of hearing it trumpet at other
times, feed it very high with hemp-seed, which makes them

lecherous, and always has the desired efiect.
This bird and the ensuing species of pigeons are by the
gentlemen of the fancy denominated toys.

THE SPOT.

From whence this pigeon derived its origin is uncertain, —
but it was first imported into this country from Holland; it |
has its name from a spot just above its beak upon the top
of its head : the tail-feathers are for the most part of the
same colour with the spot, but the body is generally all |
white. The tail and spot in some of these birds are either |
yellow, red, or black ; there are some blue, but these are
rare: th¢y make an exceeding pretty appearance when they |
spread their tails to fly; and what is remarkable in this
species is, that they always breed their young ones of the
. same colour with themselves. saci

THE LAUGHER.

This pigeon is a native of Palestine in Asia, and was
brought into Europe by the ships which trade to and from

ee

ae Se «ath

5

Cmts VY SB ww OO Ww ctw

THE NUN, &c, 31

Turkey. This bird in shape and make very much resembles
a middle-sized runt; its plumage is generally red-mottled,
but sometimes it is blue, and it has a very bright clear
pearl-eye, inclining to a white. When the cock begins to
seek for the hen, he has a kind of rough coo, like the bub-
bling of water poured from a jug, and then makes a
rattling noe, very much like a gentle convulsive laugh,

and frou this the bird derives its name. eet

THE NUN.

‘This is a sinall pigeon, and from the pleasing contrast in
its feathers greatly attracts the uotice of the beholder: its
plumage is so reinarkable, that its head 1s almost covered
with a veil of feathers, which vives it the name of the nun.
Its bodyis chiefly all white ; its head, tail, and the six flight-
feathers of its wings should be entirely red, yellow, or black;
that is, when its head is ved, its fight and tail should be red
also; and when its head is yellow, its flight and tail should be
yellow; ard when its head is black, iis flight and tail should
also be ot the same colour; ard agreeable to this they are
called either red-headed, yellow-headed, or black-headed
nuns: and whenever the colour of the feathers differs from
these rules, they are termed fould ; for example, should a red-
headed bird have a black or any different colour in its head,
except red, it would be termed foul-headed; or a white
feather in its flight, itis then foul-Sighted; and in like manner
with the yellow and black-headed ones: it is to be observed
that, the best of them have frequently a few foul feathers;
but when this happens in the least degree, it decreases their
value, thou gh they often rear as pure feathered birds as those
that are perfect. The nun should have a pearl-eye, with a
small beak and head ; its head should be covered with a hood
of white feathers, rising from the back part of the head, and
the larger this tuft or hood is, the handsomer is the appearance
that the bird makes.

THE HELMET.

This pigeon is something larger than the nun; the head
tail, and flight-feathers of the wings, for the most part
D

32 THE JACOBINE.

preserve an uniformity of colour, either yellow, red, blue,
or black, but all the rest of its body is generally white; so
that the most material difference between it and the nun is,
the former has no hood on the back part of the head, and
is frequentiy gravel-eyed. They receive the name of hel-
mets from their heads being ornamented with a tuft of fine
soft feathers, which are always of a different colour from
the body, and from its faint resemblance to that ancient
piece of armour formerly worn as a covering for the head.

THE JACOBINE.

This pigeon is usually called for shortness the jack; it is
a very pretty bird, but very good birds of this species are
exceeding searce, the genuine breed being greatly dege-
nerated by an imprudent methed of intermixing them with
the ruff, with a view of improving the chain by the length
of the ruff’s feathers: but, by this ill-judged practice, the
chain is greatly damaged, the bird bred larger, and is much
flimsier in its hood and chain, with an additional length of
beak; in a word, it is worse in all its or'ginal properties ;
for the real jack is one of the smallest pigeons, and the less
they are, the more they are valued: it has a range of in-
verted feathers on the back part of its head, which turns
towards the neck, like the cap or cowl of a monk; from
hence this bird derives its name of jacobine, or capper, as
some call it; the religious of that order wearing cowls or
caps, joined to their garments, for the covering of their bald
pates. Therefore the upper part of this feathered covering
is called the hood, and the more compact and close this fea-
thered urnament grows to the head of the bird, so much the
more does it enhance its value amongst the curious: the Dutch
style the lower part of this range of feathers, the cravat,
but with us it is called the chain. The feathers which com-
pose this chain should be long and thick, so that by laying
hold of the bill, and giving the neck a gentle stretch, the
two sides should lap over each other, as has been often ex-

perienced in some of the best birds of this species; but real

THE RUFF, &c. Ee 33 Hee
good. ones are very scarce in this country. Though this
breed has been much neglected with us, our neighbours the
Dutch and French breed them to great perfection. :

The real jacobine is possessed of a. very small head, with
a short spindle beak and clear pearl-eye, and the less these
properties are the better. As to its plumage, there are
yéllows, reds, mottled, blues, and blacks; though the - ee
yellow-coloured birds always claim the precedence, yet of
whatever colour they prove to be, they must always have a
white tail and flight, and a clean white head ; the legs and
feet of some of these birds are covered with feathers, others -
are naked and without any.

THE RUFF.

There is so greata similarity, both in shape and make, be-
tween the jacobine and this bird, that the latter has been
frequently sold for the former: but the ruff has a longer
beak, and larger head, it is also rather a larger pigeon: the
irides of its eyes are in some of a gravel, in others ofa pearl
colour; the chain does not flow so near to the shoulders of
‘its wings, though both the hood and chain are longer, but are
nothing near so close and compact as the others, and are
easily disturbed with every puff of wind ; they likewise fall:
more backward off the head, ina rumpled discomposed form,
and from this the pigeon takes its name. The plumage of this
. bird is also so similar with that of the jack, that itis not at all
surprising, that those who were not well acquainted with the
| properties of the genuine jack, should be put off with a ruffin
its place ; but the above description sufficiently distinguishes
the two birds, and the reader, by paying a proper attention
to it, may easily discover the deception, and prevent his 147
being imposed upon.

Wie ; ES
Ma yu SS el eS

THE TURBIT.

This pigeon is by some supposed to derive its name from E
a corruption of the word cortbeck, or curtheke, as itis called ~

34 THE OWL.

by the Dutch, which words seems to be originally derived
from the French, court-bec, and signifies a short bill, for
which this pigeon is remarkable. It is a small pigeon,
very little bigger than a jacobine; it has a round button
head, and the shorter the beak is the better; it has a
tuft of feathers growing from the breast, which opens and
spreads both ways, sprouting out like the frill of a shirt;
this is called the purle: it has also a guilet, which reaches
from the beak to the purle; this bird is admired according
to the largeness of its purle. As to the plumage, there
are yellows, duns, reds, blues, blecks, and some that
are chequered; the back of its wings and the tail should
be one entire colour, the yellow and red cvlovred ones
excepted, whose tails must be white; and there ought
to be bars of black across the wings of the blue-coloured
ones; but to the rest the body and the flight feathers
ought to be white, and the fanciers term them yellow-
shouldered, red-shouldered, blve shouldered turbits, &e.
agreeable to the colour they are of. ‘They are very genteel,

airy pigeons, and make very good fliers, if properly trained
when young. A veteran fancier of some note has informed
us that he trained a flight of these birds, which for their
lofty soaring seemed to dispute the palm with his tumblers.
There are some of this species which are of one uniform
colour, being all bleck, blue, or white, which have frequently
been mistakea and sold for owls.

THEOWL, ~

This bird has a mild, pleasant, insinuating aspect, is rather
less than a jacobine, with a gravel-eye, and a very short hooked
beak, mueh resembling that ofan owl, and from this the bird
derives its name. The purle in this birdis rather larger, and
opens and expands itself more like aro e, than that of the tur-
| bits, but in every other respect, both in shape, make, and plu-
© mage, this bird is so very like the iurbit, the beak excepted, as
| to render any further description needless. Particular care
" ought to he taken, that the breeding places where these birds
sit, are made dark and private, for they are naturally so very

THE CAPUCHIN, &c. 35
wild and timid, that the least noise affrights them, and when
disturbed will fly off theireggs. This bird seems to dispute
the palm in point of beauty with the jack.

,

THE CAPUCHIN.

This bird, like the jacobine, receives its name from another
order of bare-headed monastics: it hasa longer beak than the
jack, and is somewhat larger in its body ; it has no chain, but
a very pretty hood, and is in plumage and other properties
the same as the jack. Some fanciers positively assert it to be
a distinct species ; others again as confidently affirm it to bea
bastard-breed, between a jacobine and some other pigeon ;
however, it is beyond a doubt, that a jack and another pi-
geon will breed a bird so exactly similar to it as will greatly
embarrass the fanciers of this first persuasion to distinguish
between it and what they term their separate species. Though
all the pigeons of the toy kind have their respective admirers,
the capuchin is but lightly esteemed by the fancy in general.

THE FINNIKIN.

This pigeon, in make, shape, and size, differs very little
from the common runt; the crown of its head is formed very
like the head of a snake; it has a gravel-eye, with a tuft ot
feathers growing on the back part of its crown, which falls
down its neck, hanging likea horse’s main ; it has a clean leg
and foot, and its plumage is always blue or black-pied.
“This pigeon, when wanton, is addicted to very odd antics: it
first rises over its hen, spreading and flapping its wings, and
turns round three or four times; it then reverses, and tufns
as many times the contrary way, Many fanciers are pre-
judiced against this sort for their whimsical gestures, as being
apt to teach their other race ill-habits, and making a hen to
squat by these whimsies; but, in truth, they are no more dan~
gerous in this respect than any other pigeon, when the _
lecherous fit is on it.

D2

a
~ as al taal | Rey

THE TURNER, &c.

THE TURNER.

This pigeon is in so many respects like the finnikin, that

very little more remains to be said about-it, than to point out
the difference between them; it is not snake-headed, and the
tuft on the back part of the ohare is wanting; and when the
wanton fit is on it, and it plays to the female, it turns only
one way, whereas the finnikin turns. both.

THE BROAD-TAILED SHAKER, OR
FAN-TAIL.

This pigeon, especially when lustful, has a frequent tre-
mutous motion or shaking in the neck, which, joined to the
breadth of its tail when spread, gives the bird the name of
Broad-tailed Shaker. This bird is possessed of a long, taper,
bandsome neck, which it erects in a ser pentine form, rather
leaning towards its back, somewhat like the neck of a swan:
it has a very short beak, and is exceedingly full-breasted,
with a tail composed of a vast number of feathers, very
seldom less ee four and twenty, and never exceeding six
and thirty, which it spreads in a very striking manner, “like
the tail of a turkey-cock,. and raises. it up to such a degree,
that the tail appears joined to the head, in the nature of a.
squirrel’s, and from hence some fanciers give them the name
of fan-tails; but when it is.so crouded with feathers, it oc-
casions it frequentl y to droop its tail, and hinders it from
throwing (it up to meet its head, which is so great an imper-
fection i the opinion of the fancy , as never to be overlooked,
be all the other properties of the bird ever so perfect ; though
a very large tailed bird of this species, which carries its tail
according to the rules of the fancy, is a great; variety; and of

great value.

Though the general colour of its plumage is entirely white,
there are yellow, red, blue, and black-pieds, and some all blue;.
but the whites are the favourite birds; as they have by far
the noblest carriage both in their tail and head. There is
another kind of broad-tail shakers, which differ in nothing
from the above-described bird, the neck excepted, which is

"HE NARROW-TAILED SHAKER, &€c. aT

shorter and thicker; but the shaker with the longest neck is
_ by far the handsomest and most valuable bird.

THE NARROW-TAILED SHAKER,

Fanciers are divided in their opinions concerning this pi-~
geon; some say it isa distinct species, others that it is only
a bastard kind between the broad-tailed shaker and some
other pigeon; its back is longer, and its neck shorter and
thicker than that of the last-described bird: it has also a less
number of feathers in its tail, which it does not spread out so
much as the others.does, but lets them fall as it were double,
the one side folding over the other, in the nature of a fan
when three parts opened, and is very apt to fall into the fault
of letting its tail droop very much. In regard to the colour
of its plumage, it is usually white, though, like the broad-
tailed shaker, there are some of various colours; anda certain
- fancier 6f distinction had amongst his collection some almond
of this sort, but that is a great rarity.

THE BARBARY PIGEON, OR BARB.

This pigeon is originally a native of Barbary in Africa, —
aud receives its name from. the'country from whence it came, -
but the name is contracted, and it is now called by no other
name than the barb. This bird is in size rather larger than
a jacobine, it has a short thick beak, like a bull-finch,
inerusted with a small wattle, and a naked circle of a thick
spungy red skin round about its eyes, like that of the carrier ;
when the feathers of the pinion are inclinable to a dark co-
lour, the irides of its eyes are of a pearl colour ; but when the
pinion-feathers are white, the irides are red, as is observable
in some other birds: the redder in colour, and the wider the
circle of tuberous flesh round the eye spreads, the greater is
the value set upon the bird ; though this circle is very nar--
row at first and does not arrive at its full size till the bird is.
four years old. Some of this species are ornamented with a.
pretty tuft of feathers, sprouting from the back part of they
crown of its. head, resembling that of the finnikin, but others.

38 THE MAHOMET, OR MAWMET, &c.

there are without any. The plumage of the original barb is
either dun or black ; for though there are pieds of both these
colours, fanciers in general set but little store on them, as
they are supposed to be bred from.a barb and a mahomet,

THE MAHOMET, OR MAWMET.

A late celebrated fancier of good repute used to affirm,
that this pigeon is in reality only a white barb, which colour
gave the red tuberous circle round its eyes a very fine effect;
but some modern fanciers give a different account, and de-
scribe the bird in the following manner.

The pigeon named Mahomet, and by corruption Mawmet,
is of a fine cream-colour, with black bars across its wings;
rts feathers are very remarkable, for though the outside, or
surface of them, is of a cream, yet the underside, or that
part next the body, is of a dark sooty colour, as are also its
skin and flue feathers, which is peculiar to this pigeon; it
is about the size of a turbit, and, instead of a frill, has a
fine gullet, with a handsome seam of feathers; it has a thick
short made head, with an orange-coloured eye, encompassed
with a small naked circle of black flesh; its beak has a
small black wattle on it, and is short and thick, like that
of the bull-finch. Some are of opinion that this bird is of a
mixed strain, between a turbit and some other pigeon.

This bird takes his name from Mahomet, the prophetic
impostor, who, it is said, learned a bird of this kind to feed
out of his ear, and thereby shamefully imposed upon the
Arabians, saying it was the visible appearance of the Holy
Ghost, whispering the dictates of the Almighty, and teach-
ing him the precepts of his new law; and from hence this
bird receives the name of Mahomet; though it is more fre-
guently called Mawmet. [

THE LACE PIGEON.

.,| This species of the pigeon is in great plenty in some parts
4; of Holland, where it was originally bred, though at present

ay

THE FRILL-BACK, &c. 3G

very scarce in this country : it is about the size of a common
runt, and not unlike it in make and shape, but the colour
of its plumage is always white; it differs in the make of its
feathers from all other pigeons, whose plumage is composed .
of a close smooth feather ; but the web or fibres of the fea-
thers in this bird appear quite unconnected with each other,
and as it were disunited throughout its whole plumage; in
short, the make of its feather is very peculiar, and gives the
birda pretty though singular appearance, and from hence it
derives its name of lace pigeon.
Pe

THE FRILL-BACK.

This pigeon like that last described, is remarkable only for
the peculiar turn of its feathers, all of which look as if they
had been distinctly and purposely raised at the end with a
small round-pointed instrament, aftersuch a manner as to
make a sinall hollow in each of them; or as if the bird had
been under the hands of some of our modern hair-dressers,
and had its plumage frizzled and curled at the ends. It is
in size lessthan the common runt, though very much lke
it in shape; and its plumage is always. white. ed

THE SMITER.

This pigeon, in shape, make, and diversity of plumage,
nearly resembles the tumbler, the size excepted, it being a
much larger bird. ‘The smiter is supposed to be the same _
species that the Dutch call the drager: when it flies, it has
a peculiar tremulous motion with its wings, and commonly
rises in a circular manner, the male for the generality flying
much higher than the female; and though it does not tum-
ble, it has a particular manner of falling and: flabbing | its
wings, with which it makes so loud a noise as to be heard at
a great distance, whichis frequently the cause of its shate
tering or breaking its quill-feathers.

THE CHINESE PIGEON &c.

THE CHINESE PIGEON.

This beautiful little pigeon is a native of Pekin in China,
and was imported into Europe in some of the Company’s
ships; it is only to be seen in the collections of the rich and
curious, who have always large cages, or a distinct aviary
built on purpose for them. It is a very scarce and dear bird,
and in our opinion one of the greatest curiosities of the pi-
geon kind; therefore, for the satisfaction of our readers, we
shall give a particular description of it.

This pigeon in size is rather less than the common swal-
low; ihe sides of the head are yellow, but the top and the
space round the eyes are of anash-colour; it has a blueish
ash-coloured beak, and the irides of its eyes are of a fine white:
the extreme feathers on each side the headand neck are red,
and there are blue feathers about the rise of the wings, The
hind part of the neck and back are brown ; and the extremj«
ties of the feathers black ; those on the shoulders are lighter,
and variegated at the ends with black and white. The first
and last covert feathers are black, but are white on their
external edges; the long feathers of the wings are black, the
edges of which are tipped with white, and the belly and breast
are of alovely pale rose-colour. The tail, which is com-
posed of twelve feathers, is a mixture of dusky and bright ;
the legs and feet are red and the claws black.

THE INDIAN TURTLE,

This bird, which is also called Cocolzia, is somewhat
larger than a sparrow. The upper part of the body is covered
with brown feathers, edged with black. The fore parts of the
wings are partly black, and the rest is of a dusky colour.
The end of the tail is promiscuously tinctured with white
and brown, and the feathers on the lower part of the body are
white, ending in black lines. The head is small, the bill js
black, and the legs and feet are whitish. They make a
noise when flying, and frequent mountainous places. They
grow very fat, and their flesh, which greatly resembles that
of a quail, is thought very delicate,

THE TURTLE, OR ALDROVANDUS, &c.

THE TURTLE, OR ALDROVANDUS.

This is another Indian turtle. The female is entirely
white, except the bill and the feet; the former being black,
and the latter red. The maleis the size of acommon pigeon,
and of a light red colour. The iris of the eyes is of a saffron~
colour, with a reddish cast, anda narrow black ring sur-
rounds the neck.

TURTLE OF KERNANDEZ, OR COCOTZIN.

This is a little bigger than a sparrow, and the upper part
of the body is all over brown, only the feathers are edged
with black. The head is small, and the bill black. They

are found in mountainous places.

THE GREENLAND PIGEON.

The eyes of this bird are black, with a yellow iris, and on
the covert feathers of each wing it has a white spot, but is
black on every other part. It has twenty-seven feathers on
each wing, and the legs and feet are of a bright red.

THE PICUI PINIMA.

This, which is an inhabitant of Brazil, is about the size of

a lark; it bas a brown bill, and is shaped like a common pi-

geon : the eyes are black, surrounded with a bright yellow
iris; the head, top of the neck, back, sides, and the wing-

feathers, are all very long, and of an ash-colour, The tail

isofa brownish ash-colour, but in some, white and black about
the middle, Those on the belly are white, with brown edges;
and the legs and feet are of the same colour. The flesh of
this bird is esteemed very delicate. Some naturalists sup-
pose the small Barbadoes turtle to be the same with the Piews
Pinima of Mangrave, or the wild pigeon of Brazil. .

a: enema Ad a a

THE MEXICAN PIGEON, &€¢.

THE MEXICAN PIGEON.

This bird is covered with dusky feathers, except on the
breast, and the extremities of the wings, which are of a dirty
white. The iris of the eyes is red.

THE RING-TAILED PIGEON OF JAMAICA,

The length of this bird 1s fifteen inches, and the breadth
twenty inches; the length of the bill is three-quarters of an
inch, and it has a double protuberance at the base about the
nostrils. The iris ofthe eye is red, and the length of the tail
is about fivemches. The head, neck, and breast, are covered
with feathers of a purple-colour, and the belly with those that
are‘white. The upper part of the neck is a greenish-colour,
shining, and changeable. "The back and tail are ofa palish
blue, and the wings are of a‘dusky colour.

THE BALD-PATE PIGEON OF JAMAICA.

This is another bird of the same kind, which is eleven inches
in length, and eighteen in ‘breadth; the bill is half an inch
in length, red at the base and protuberance, but white below
the nostrils. In the old birds, the top of the head is white,
from whence their name is derived. The body is wholly ofa
darkish blue, except the upper part of the neck, which is of

a changeable blue and green.

€

Full and ample Directions for the Building of a
Pigeon- House.

Having presented our readers with a copious, useful, and
entertaining natural history of the pigeon we proceed in the
next place to give instructions for the erecting of @ pigeon-
house, or dove-cole, as they are termed by the country people ;
of which piece of economy much may be said, there being a
number of things to be noticed, in order to procure a pigeon-
house that will be both beneficial and profitable to the owner.
In the first place, it is necessary to seek for a convenient si-
tuation, of which none can be better adapted to the purpose,
than the centre of a spacious court or farm-yard ; for pigeons

CONSTRUCTION OF A PIGEON-HOUSE. 43
being naturally timorous, the least noise affrights them: -
therefore, it is not without reason, that pigeon-houses are
generaily erected at a preper distance from the rustling noise
of trees shaken by high winds, and the loud rearings of mill-
dams. With regard to the size of the pigeon-house, it de-
pends entirely on the number of birds intended to be kept 5
but it is better to have it roomy, than to be pinched for want
of it; and as to the form of it, the round are greatly preferable —
to the square ones; because it will not be so easy for the rats

to come at them in the former as in the fatter. It is also
much more convenient, for you may, by the help of a ladder,

it turning upon an axis, get at all the nests in the house with
very little trouble, which is mot readily done in a square
house.

In order to prevent rats from getting into the pigeon-house, .

by climbing up the outside, the wall should be sheathed 1
with plates of tin, for about two feet in height; and project |

‘out three or four inches at the top, which should be pointed

with sharp wire, to prevent their clambering any higher ;

also the outside angles of a square pigeon-house ought to be - .
particularly guarded against the devastations of these for-
aidable enemies to the pigeon tribe.

The pigeon-house should be built near some good sweet
water, that the pigeons may convey it to their young
ones; and they carrying it in their bills will warm it
a little, and not only make it mere palatable, but also more

sacle
eh

Bie

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wholeseme. : z =
The covering of a pigeon-house should be well put 10- a
me

ether, so that not the least rain may penetrate through it.
The whele building must be covered with hard plaster, and
white-washed within and without; white being the colour
pigeons most delight in, and because the building is the
easier discerned by the bird when at.a distance, from its
__-white appearance. As pigeons’ dung is very corrosive,
_ care should be taken that the foundation is well laid, the
flooring good, and the whole building well cemented. It
should also be a Standing rule, that there be vo door or
other aperture towards the east: these should always face
. the south, pigeons being very fond of the sun, especially ia
the winter; but if the window of the pigeon-house faces
the noxth, it should never be opened but in very warm
E

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+ cas Canton nn nea =
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44 CONSTRUCTION OF A PIGEON-HOUSE.

weather, when the air may have free admittance, which,
at that season of the year, is both refreshing and wholesome.
to the pigeons. The pigeon-house should have a cincture,
made either of free-stone or parget, reaching from the projec-
ture under the window, to nearly the middle of the pigeon-
house ; the use of which is for the birds to rest upon when
they come out of the fields: and at this aperture should be
fixed a portcullis, or sliding blind, the sides of which must
be lined with tin, fenced with sharp pointed wire, strongly
fastened to the wall, as a barrier against the rats. This
portcuilis, or sliding blind, may be drawn up at pleasure,
by means of a cord and pully, properly fixed to it, and the
pigeon set at liberty, or confined, as inclination may dictate,
or occasion require.
The nests, or coves, in a pigeon-house generally consist

of long square holes made in the walls, and these are so

contrived, that the pigeon sits dark, which is a situation
they much covet when hatching: these nests were highly
esteemed, till the invention of earthen pots came up. As
the pigeon does not always build a nest, it is necessary
to have a small cavitv sunk at the bottom of the coves to
prevent the eggs from rolling aside; for, though the pigeon
may sit well in-her nest, if this accident happen they will
certainly be spoiled; particular care should also be taken,
that the coves in the walls be of a size sufficient for the cock
and hen tostand in. The first range of these nests should
be about four feet from the ground. These nests or coves
must be placed in a quincunx order, or chequer-wise, and

not directly overone another; nor should they be raised

any higher than within one yard of the top of the wall.
Before the mouth of every cove, which must be built even
with the wall, should be fixed a small flat stone, to project
out of, the wall three or four inches, for the pigeons to
rest upon in going in or coming out from their nests, or
when the weather obliges them to remain prisoners at
home.

‘There are pigeon-houses of different forms and sizes,
built of various materials, but mostly of wood, to be seen in

farm-yards, the yards of inns, and gentlemen’s court-yards,

chiefly inhabited by pigeons kept for the table, which walk

CONSTRUCTION OF A PIGEON-HOUSE. : 45

about the yard picking up the scattered grains of corn, and
feeding among the fowls ; there are many persons who are
very fond of this sort of pigeons. Others there are, who are
possessed of very valuable flights of fancy birds, which, as
they required a distinct description, have been copiously
| treated of, under their different names, in the preceding
| pages. These pigeon-houses are always built according |
. to the fancy or convenience of the owner; but in what rE
manner soever they are constructed, the same advice as has Pu
been already given, is indispensably necessary to be com-
plied with, in defending the pigeons from the nocturnal
‘depredations of the weasel, pole-cat, and rat.

—

Directions for stocking and managing the Pigeon House, ©
or Dove-Cote; with some Account of those Pigeons
that are most advantageous for this Purpose; very ne-
cessary Information, particularly to those who keep s
large’ Quantities of Pigeons for Pro fit.

The months of May and August are the most proper
seasons to stock your pigeon-house ; your pigeons, being
| then plenty, may be purchased very reasonably ; the spring

pigeons, having been kept up during the winter, are much
strengthened, and soon in a condition to yield profit to the
| buyer. Those in autumn are well fed and strong, having
been plentifully supplied by the old ones in the time of
harvest. As to the number necessary to stock a pigeon-
house, that depends upon the inclination, ability, or con-
venience of the purchaser: if few pigeons are put into the
| house, it will be some time before any advantage is
| reaped, for none must be taken out of the pigeon-house
before it is well stocked.

The dove-cote, or common blue pigeon, being both pro-
lific and hardy, is most worthy the attention of country
people, as it is generally remarked, that the small pigeons
| rear the greatest number of young ones; but when the
) breed of pigeons proves too small, it will be proper to in-

=

etna reeset ewe se osc Dh ican

46 DIRECTIONS FOR MANAGING PIGEONS,

termix with the dove-cote a few ofthe common tame sort;
in the procuring of which, care must be taken not to select
those of glaring colours, for the rest will not easily associate
with them. Others recommend the dark grey coloured
pigeon, inclining to ash-colour and black; especially if
she has a redness in her eyes, and a ring of gold-colour
about her neck; which, according to the judgment of some,
are never-failing signs of her fertility.

On farms contiguous to cities and large towns, though
the maintenance is expensive, it will turn to good account
to keep a number of the large tame pigeons ; for, as they
hatch early in the season, the young ones are always fat,
and fetch a good price. On farms more remote from cities
and towns, the common pigeons are greatly preferable; as
they increase very fast, and are kept at a small expense,
their numbers over-balance the lowness of the price.

Pigeons should be kept very clean, for though they make
a great deal of dirt, they do not like to live init: care
_ should be taken to prevent starlings and other birds from
visiting their nests, as they will suck or destroy their eggs;
also, that there are not too many cocks in proportion to the
bens, for this is a constant source of mischief, as the cocks
disagree and drive each other away, which proves detri-
mental to the stock. Few people make any conscience of
enticing away neighbouring pigeons; but, for the reason
just given, this practice becomes hurtful to themselves, and
they are frequently losers by it.

Pigeons are kept to the best advantage near those lands
which are sowed with horse-beans and grey peas; for
these pulse being sown early in the season, the bird, by
feeding on them, acquires great vigour, and hatches its
young early in the season, which is a beneficial circum-
stance to the owner. Barley and buck-wheat are very
strengthening food for pigeons, and cause them to lay
frequently. .Tares and white peas are also very proper
food for pigeons. ‘Though the common sort will provide
for themselves through the greaier part of the year, they
must be fed in hard weather; and also towards the latter
eud of June, which is styled by the husbandmen benting-
time, from the grass called bent, the seed of which is then

DIRECTIONS FOR MANAGING PIGEONS. 47

ripe, and is almost the only food the pigeon can get at, as
the peas are not sufficiently mature. At this season, pigeons
in general have many young ones, as the seed of the bent-
| grass is not cherishing, it is really necessary to supply them
with food during the short time it lasts, whichis while the
pulse ripens: and as extreme hard frosts are seldom of long
continuance the keeping of pigeons,in the country turns to:
good account. Pigeons usually take rest at noon, and, asit
agrees with them, they should not be disturbed: mornings:
and evening’ are the best times for giving them their food:
be mindful also that they are plentifully supplied with water,
that they be kept free from vermin, that the pigeon-house be
kept clean, and frequently strewed with gravel: these rules
properly observed will greatly increase your stock. _

Various are the disputes concerning the longevity of pi-
geons, for it is difficult to know how tocdistinguish their age ;
though they seldom live more than eight years, and con-
tinue prolific for the first four only; after which time, if

you keep pigeons for profit, they only encumber the house, ae
and deprive you of the advantage you might. reap by others y
that ace younger. In order to fatten young pigeons for Ful

| ae

4 the table in wiuter, take them before thev can fly, when
they are stout birds, and pull the largest quill-feathers out
of their wings, which will confine them to their nests; and
the substance of the nourishment they receive, not being
diffused for want of exercise, soon fattens them.
Farmers, for their own sakes, should be careful that the
_ pigeon-house 1s kept clean, and the dung preser#ed; it
being some of the finest manure in the world, and claims
the precedence of the dung ofall other animals. Itisendued
with a nitrous quality, and is of a very hot nature, which —
makes it an excellent soil for cold, moist, damp grounds.
In manuring of land, it is frequently sown in the same
_- manner as grain, also harrowed in with it. It is of a na-
_ ture peculiarly suited to hop grounds. Tanners make use
of it in preparing upper-leathers:: and it is of great service’
in medicine.
Any lord of the manor, or freeholder, may build a pigeon-
house or dove-cote upon his own land, but a tenant cannot’
| do.it without the lord’s licence. When persons shoot at or:
E2

a

Seite Whewagle eat

iit Nt

Fae

SaaS / Migaapiae Miami of oS bo.

48 OF COUPLING PIGEONS.

kil pigeons within a certain distance of the pigeon-house,
they are liable to pay a forfeiture.

Rules to be observed in distinguishing a Cock from
a Hen.

The following rules, joined to a little experience, will
soon enable the young fancier to become an adept in this
particalar,

1. The cock has always a longer and stouter breast-bone
than the hen.

2, His head and cheeks are broader and fuller, and he has
a bolder look than the hen.

3. The vent.in the hen, and the bone near the vent, is
always more open than in the cock.

4, In young pigeons, that which squeaks longest in the
nest generally proves to be a hen; and where there are
two in the nest, the largest usually turns out to be a cock.

d. The coo of the cock is longer, a great deal louder, and
more masculine than the hen’s; and the cock often makes
a half round in his playing, which the hen seldom does,
though a warm lively hen will sometimes show, and play
very like a cock; and when lecherous will even attempt
to tread another pigeon.

Ristructions for coupling or matching Pigeons.

it has already been observed, that pigeons are very con-
stant, seldom or never suing for a divorce, when once”
mated to each other, except in times of long illness, death,
or old age; yet it is sometimes attended with difficulty to
make the fancy birds couple to your liking.

In order to effect this, let two coops be built close toge-
ther; these are commonly named matching-places by the
fanciers; let there be a partition made of lath placed be-
tween them, that the birds may see each other, and it may
easily be so contrived that the birds may feed out of the
same vessels: supply them well with hemp-seed, which

CONSTRUCTION OF A LOFT FOR PIGEONS. 49
will soon make them wanton, and when you perceive the
hen to sweep her tail and shew to the cock, as he plays in
the adjoining peu, you may then remove her to his pen, and
they will soon agree. When this convenience is wanting,
and you are compelled at first to put them both into one
coop, be careful to put the cock in first, for three or four
days, that he may get master of the coop, particularly if
the hen is a termagent, or else they will quarrel so much
as to end in an irreconcilable hatred ever after. But when
the cock is once master of his house, he will always main-
tain it, and by astout and well-timed resistance, make his
mistress yield to his authority. ae

When the pigeons are once matched, give them the li-
berty of the loft, and the privilege of fixing upon what
nest they please ; but, when you have a mind to fix them
to any particular nest, make use of the following method:
Geta machine made of lath, the length of the breeding-
places; let this be enclosed with boards both at bottom and
top; this machine may project out as far as the loft will
admit; one of the top boards must lift up with hinges, for

the conveniency of supplying them with food; this may be |

placed before any nest, and the pigeons put in it: after

they have remained in this situation about a week, let the
machine be removed, which ought to be done in the night,.

and they willnot leave that nest.

Directions for the erecting and furnishing of a Loft for
Pigeons.

In the former part of this work, we gave full and ample

instructions for the building, stocking, and management

of the pigeon-house or dove-cote; but as this related to:

country breeders, and those who keep them for market, it
is both necessary and incumbent on us that we give some
plain.and useful directions for the building and preparing
a loft for the reception of the better and more curious
breed of these birds.

When a fancier has an intention of building a loft on pur-
pose for the keeping of pigeons, let it be astanding rule to
place the front facing the south, or south-west, as being
the warmest quarters; but as few persons erect a room for

st

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5)

50 CONSTRUCTION OF A LOFT FOR PIGEONS.

that use only, it may be proper to take notice, that any
place where there is room enough may be made subservient
for that purpose. Some break a hole through the roof of
the house, and there lay a platform of what size best suits
them; but, in doing this, particular care must be taken to
erect proper fences to keep out those terrible enemies to
the pigeon tribe, the cats. Be careful not to over-stock
the loft, and always allow at least two holes or breeding-
places for every pair; forif they are cramped for want of
room, they will not sit quiet nor breed so well as when they
have a sufficiency of room allowed them. The reason is
obvious; fallacious cocks will often be playing to and fret-
ting the others as they sit: and others that want room to sit
will fight for nests, and by thismeans both eggs and young
ones are destroyed.

In erecting the breading-places, let the shelves be at
least fourteen inches in breadth, and the distance between
shelf and shelf twenty inches, that tall powters may not be
compelled to crouch for want of height, and spoil their
carriage, by getting an ill-habit of playing low: let par-
titions be fixed upon these shelves, leaving the space of
three feet between each partition, having a board nailed
against the front, which serves as a blind on both sides of
every partition; and by this method there will be two nests
in the length of every three feet, and the pigeons will sit
cark and private. Some place a partition in the middle of
each nest, which is of service in hindering the young ones
from running to the hen, and cooling her eggs, when she
sits at the other side; for, in breeding-time, when the
young onesare about three weeks old, the hen will lay
again, if a good breeder, and leave the young ones to the
care of the cock. For the easier cleaning out the nests. some
have them built without any blind, being entirely left open.
in. front: but asthe pigeon does not like to be disturb-
ed when sitting, and an open fronted nest is liable to
some other inconveniences, we can say nothing in favour
of it. © .

Let every nest be furnished with an unglazed earthen
pan, or straw basket, both of which are made and adapted
for this use, and the size should be in proportion to the

Ne aaemeeaies ieeneaeeneaieaeieeaiammmiaes i

CONSTRUCTION OF A LOFT FOR PIGEONS. 5F

pigeons it is intended for: for example, a pan proper fora
tumbler, or any other smallpigeon, ought to be three inches:
high, and about eightinches over at the top, slooping liké a
w ash-hand basin towards the bottom ; and these should be
varied in proportion to the size of the pigeons; in fixing
the pan or basket in the breeding-place, puta small wedge
of wood, or a brick, against the front of it, that the pigeons
may get on and off the nest without treading on the edges
of the pan or basket, and by that means tilt out the eggs.
When the ben has hatched, be careful not to handle the
young ones, When you want to look at them, for the hand-
ling of young pigeons often brings a scouring upon them.
The basket is prefered by some, as being much the warm-
est, and not so subject to crack the egg when fresh laid;
but the advocates for the pan say, that these difficulties are
easily obviated, by a proper supply of clean straw, or frail,
made soft and short; the frail, as it lies hollow, and lasts
a great while, is preferable to the straw; for when the
young ones are able to get out of their nest, take hold of
the ends of the frail, and shake off the dung and filth, and
the frail will be fit for use again: Itis not improper in this
place to inform the reader, that gravel should be sifted on
the shelves and floor, which the pigeons are fond of picking,
and it is very wholesome for them, and also gives the loft
a more creditable appearance, and makes it much easier to
be cleaned; besides, in keeping the pigeons clean, they
are cleared from fleas and other vermin, which are the con=
stant attendants of nastiness and filth, being principally
bred and nourished by the dung.

As for the trap or airy, itis always built on a platform
or floor of deals, on the outside of the house and is the
common passage for the going out and coming in of the pi-

geons; it is made of laths, which should be nailed’ so close”

together, as not to permit a mouse to creep through. Some
of these are made very small, with a door in the middle, and:
one on each side; which three doors are so contrived, that by
the pull ofa single string, like a piece of machinery, all
draw up together: this contrivance is chiefly designed to trap.
stray pigeons: who are allured into it by the tempting baits
of hemp-seed, or rape and canary, which is strewed there for
that purpose, and frequently has.its desired effect.

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5¢ DIET PROPER FOR PIGEONS.

In order to complete the furniture of the loft, it must be
provided with proper bottles and stands for water, and also
with proper meat-boxes. It should be a large egg-belled
glass-bottle, with a long neck, big enough to contain three
or four gallons of water, though the shape of it is immaterial,
for a piece of pasteboard, hung by a string about three inches
above the bottle, will always hinder them from settling on it,
and dunging it. ‘This bottle should be set upon a three leg-
ged stool or stand, having a hollow at the top for the belly to
rest in, that the mouth may descend into a small pan under-
neath, by which means the water will gradually run from
the mouth of the bottle, supplying the pan with water as
fast as the pigeons drink it out: this method will keep the
water fresh and sweet, and the water will stop running when
its surface meets the mouth of the bottle. .

The box for the meat should be made in the shape of a
hopper, and, in order to hinder them from dunging the
grain, it must have a cover over the top, and then it will
serve as a preservative for their food ; hence the meat descends
into a hoilow square box, and this is usually fenced in with
rails or small holes on each side, to prevent them from flirt-
ing the grain amongst their own dung, which lies about the
floor. Some leave it quite open for the benefit of the young
pigeons, that they may the more easily find their way
to it.

Observations on the Diet proper for Pigeons.

The common dove-house pigeon, being removed, as it were,
but one step from a state of nature, is hardy, and will seek .
its own food, living upon almost any grain; yet it is far
different with the fancy birds, that require some attendance,
being much more delicate, and always used to tender treat-
ment ; therefore some short observations on their food js very
necessary. .

The pigeon is a granivorous bird, and may be fed with
various sorts of grain, as wheat, barley, oats, peas, horse-
beans, vetches, or tares, rape and canary, or hemp-seed. But
of all grains, old tares prove to be the bestsuited to the nature
- of these birds ; for new tares should be given very sparingly,

DISEASES OF PIGEONS. 53

them into a scouring.

Horse-beans are esteemed the riext best food to tares, but
the smallest of these are by all means to be chosen: there is
a French sort, called small ticks, which make good food, and
are cheaper than tares.

~ Wheat, barley, oats, and peas, ought only to be given now
and then for a change of diet, as they are very subject to
scour them. There is a mixed diet, made of tares, beans,
and peas, which is called Scotch meat, with which some fan-
ciers feed their pigeons for cheapness, but care should be taken
that the beans are not too large. Rape and canary, and
hemp-seed, is a diet that pigeons are immoderately fond of:
but this, for many substantial reasons, must not by any 3
means be made a constant diet. 3

especially to young pigeons, as they are very liable to put

‘Of the Diseases incident to Pigeons with their Method of
a Cure.

The first disease that we shall take notice of is, the corrup-
tion of the egg in the uterus: this usually arises from the
over-salaciousness of an unmatched hen, and proceeds from
high feeding, or some other cause, who will often breed eggs

without any connexion with the male, though they seldom _ £
bring them to perfection, and sometimes they do not bring a4
them forth, so that they decay in the womb: there is no. ioe
yemedy for this but a low diet, (if you think this disorder _ Bs.
arise from high feeding, ) and to match her to a cock in Be
time. ce Ee ‘3
The wet-roop.—In this case give them three or four pepper= 4
corns once in three or four days, and steep a handful of green +
rue in their water, and as this is very wholesome, you may Fa
let all the pigeons drink of it. pve! to 4 Ss
The dry roop is usually known by a dry husky cough, that 4
always attends it, and is supposed to proceed from a cold, to 4
which they are very subject, particularly during the time of 4

moulting: to remedy this, give them every day three or four

cloves of garlick.
The canker usually takes its rise from the cocks pecking and

fighting one another: though some fanciers say, that giving

4 DISEASES OF PIGEONS.

them water ina metal or tin vessel will bring on this disorder.
In order to remove this, take burntalum and honey, and rub
the affected part every day : but when this has not its desired
effect, dissolve five grains of Roman vitriol in half a spocn-
ful of wine vinegar, mix it with the former medicine, and
anoint the part affected.

When the flesh or wattles round the eyes of the carrier,
horseman, or barb, are torn and pecked, bathe them with
stale urine for several days; if this should not prove success-
ful, dissolve two drams of alum in one ounce and a half of
water, and wash the aggrieved part; but when the case is
very obstinate, mix half an ounce of honey with twenty grains
of red precipitate, and anoint the part, and it will certainly

gure it.

Pigeons are infested with smail insects, particularly during
the summer months, which the fanciers call lice: when this
happens, smoke their feathers well with the smoke of tobacce,
and it will certainly destroy them.

Gizzard fallen, is when the gizzard sinks down to the vent:
the fancy in general think it proceeds from weakness, though
we are of opinion that it is rather caused by feeding on too
much hemp-seed. We know of no cure for this malady, un-
jess nature will co-operate with an alteration of diet, which in
young pigeons it, sometimes does.

Navel fallen, is when there is a sort of bag hanging down
near the vent. This distemper is frequently desperate, and
if the given of them clary, or some other strengthening things
of a similar nature, will not effect a cure, we can recommend
nething that does. ;

Pigeons are subject to be pap-arsed, as it is termed by
the fancy. This malady arises either froma natural weak-
ness, or from a lecherous cock’s mounting his hen too fre-
quent: there is no cure for this, except flying, and the part-
ing of them sometimes, to make them more abstemious.
Young pigeons and carriers that are not much flown are most
liable to it. :

Some pigeons, as povwters and croppers, are apt to over-
charge or gorge themselves; that is, when they have fasted
rather longer than usual, they will eat such a quantity that
they cannot digest it, but it will stay and corrupt in the
srop, and be the death of the pigeon; when this happens,

DISEASES OF PIGEONS, 55

take the following advice: put the gorged bird in a tight
stocking, with its feet downward, stroking up the crop, that
the overloaded bag of meat may not hang down; then hang
up the stocking on a nail, keeping it in this posture, only sup-
plying it with a little water now and then, till the food is
digested, and this will frequently cure it; but when it is
taken out of the stocking, put itin a coop or open baskety
feeding it but very moderately ; for if left to itself it will,
gorge again. When this method does not succeed, slit the
crop from the bottom witha sharp pair of scissars or penknife,
take out the corrupted meat, wash the crop, and sew it up
again: this method often has proved successful, though the
crop will lose its roundness. Some take off the crop by a
ligature, that is, tyimg that partof the crop that contains the
undigested food tight round with a string, and let it remain
tillit drops off; this method never fails, but the shape of the
crop is entirely ruined for ever after.

The vertigo, or, as itis commonly called by the fancy, the
megrims, is a disease, in which the pigeon flutters about at
random, with its head reverted in such a manner, that its
beak rests onits back. This malady is pronounced incurable
by most fanciers, and, if it baffle the power of the following
remedy, it is so; infuse in a half a pint of water, one ounce
and a half of the spirit of lavender, and a dram of the spirit of

sal-ammoniac that has been distilled with quick-lime; in.

the course of a day force down the bird’s throat about a spoon-

ful and a half of this composition, and if the bird find benefit,

repeat the medicine, every third or fourth day, only lessen-
ing the quantity, and in the intermediate days give it a clove
of garlick, or three or four pepper-corns; if, after a trial,
you perceive no amendment, it will be best to kill it out of
the way. _

When pigeons do not moult freely, or are ata stand in their
moulting, so that they do not throw their feathers kindly, it
is a never-failing sign ofa bad state of heath: to amend this,
the following method will be of service; put them in some
warm place, and pull out their tail-feathers, mixing a good
quantity of hemp-seed with their common food, also a little
clary or saffron thrown into their water, though some prefer
cochineal, or elder-berries for this use.

The distemper called the small~pox, which breaks out in
eruptions or pustules, full of yellow matter, on their bodies,

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56 REMARKS ON THE KEEPERS OF PIGEONS,

wings, and legs, is cured by opening the pustules, and ap=
plying burnt alum and brandy, or touching them with Romai
vitriol. .

When pigeons are lame, or the ball of their foot swelled,
either with cold, the being cut with glass, or any other
accident, spread some venice turpentine on a piece of
brown paper put it to the part affected, and it will heal it
in a few days.

The flesh-rcen is a fleshy tumor, which arises on the joints
of the legs or wings; this may be either opened or cut off;
if opened, take out the kernel, and wash it with alum and
water ; if cut off, the part may be afterwards healed with
almost any salve. —

The bone-wen is a hard tumor, growing upon the joint as
the last; this is very rarely cured, and the bird affected
with it will not breed: some attempt to cure it with a mix-
ture of black soap and quick lime; but if this is suffered to
lie on too long, or made too strong, it will eat off the leg,
or any other part where it is applied, it being a strong
caustic.

The core.—This malady is so called, from its resemblance
to the core of an apple: it is hard, and usually of a yellow
colour interspersed with red, and is mostly seated in the
anus or vent. This must be ripened ; to effect which, keep
the pigeons loose, by giving them a gentle purge of tobacco ;
a small quantity will do: this wili sometimes make them
discharge the core themselves, if not, when ripe, it must
be drawn out.

Some Remarks ‘on the Keepers of Pigeons.

It will not be improper, in the course of this treatise, te
take notice of the distinction which real pigeon-fanciers make
between themselves and pigeon-keepers. ‘Such persons whe
keep the best ofthekind, whether carriers, powters, tumblers,
dragoons, horsemen, runts, jacobines, turbits, barbs, nuns,
spots, owls, trumpeters, finnikins, &c. are named fanciers ;
on the reverse, those who keep. rubbish are styled pigeon-
keepers, of which latter tribe there are ap in credible num-~
ber. It is really astonishing, that any person will give loft-
room to such as are not worth the tares they eat, which can

LAWS RELATING TO PIGEONS. 57

only be accounted for, by supposing such persons to be igno-

‘vant of the bad qualities and imperfections of the several
sorts they keep: if they breed for the dish only, even then,

their table might be more fully supplied by the better sort ;

for the expense of keeping is equally the same in either; the

only difference is in the first buying of a few pair. Should

any objection arise to the first purchase of the better sort, we

inform the reader that it is much the cheapest in the end. to

give a good price for a couple of pair of valuable young

birds; who, in a little time, would so well stock his loft, as
to repay his purchase with interest, (powters and Leghorn
runts excepted, for the reasons already given,) than to begin
with bad birds, at three or four shillingsa pair, the value of

which can never be raised, nor the breed mended.
To those who keep pigeons for the sake of good breeding,

we should recommend the bastard-bred pigeons, such. as f. ;
powting-horseman, powting dragoons, from a powter or crop- |

per, and a Leghorn runt; ora cock cropper, and a hen car-
rier: the reason is, these pigeons frequently breed ten pair of
young ones in a year; for the little puff of wind derived from
the powter, gives thema heat and mirth, which occasions
them to be continually playing or courting ; and when they
have young ones, they feed them well. A cock powter will
tread any hen that will let him at any time, and part him
from his old mate, and he will match with another in a few
days: besides, bastard-bred pigeons are the most serviceable
er those who breed them to supply the table.

Abstract of the Laws relating to Pigeons.

_ By the 1. James, c. 27, Whoever shall shoot at, kill, or
destroy, any dove or pigeon, with any gun or bow, or take,
kill, or destroy the same, with setting-dogs and nets, or any
snares, engines, or instruments whatsoever, shall, on being
convicted thereof, before two justices, by confession or oath
of two witnesses, be committed to gaol for three months ;, or
pay, for the use of the poor, 20s. for every pigeon; or, after
one month after his commitment, become bound by recog-
nizance, with two sureties, before two justices, in 20/, each,
‘not to offend in the like manner again.
And by the 2 Geo. III. c. 29, Any person who shall shoot
at, or by any means kill or take, with a wilful intent to destroy

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58 PIGEONS PREVENTED LEAVING HOME,

any pigeon, he shall, on conviction thereof, by confession or
oath of one witness, before one justice, forfeit 20s. to the pro-
secutor ; and, if not immediately paid, such justice shall com-
mit him to the house of correction, for any term not exeeed-
ing three months, nor less than one, unless the penalty be
sooner paid. Persons who are convicted on this act, shall not
be convicted on any former act; and prosecutions on this act
must be commenced within two months after the offence is
committed. 3

These two abstracts are given to inform the keepers of pi-
geons of the laws in force to protect them; but more espe-.
cially to remove the vulgar error so prevalent among the
lower class of people ; “that pigeons are a’ nuisance, that
they destroy a great deal of seed im the fields, grain in the
rick-yards, and loosen the tiles on the-top of buildings; and
that any person may shoot them, provided he does not carry
them away.”’ Therefore the reader is desired to take notice,
that both the above acts are unrepealed, and in full force;
consequently every offender is liable to the punishment
therein specified. .

Account of the best Methods for preventing Pigeons.
from leaving their Habitations

Many and various are the means made use of by owners of
pigeons, to prevent their straying from home, or being enticed
away by the arts of others; but as it would be needless to
insert more than is necessary, we shall here only select some
of the most approved and useful methods now in practice,

1. Lay near the pigeon-house a barrow-full of loam, re--
duce it to the consistence of pap, by mixing it with water,
but brine is better; add to this a gallon and a half of the
coarsest Sand, a pack of bay-salt, and a little salt-petre. If
the loam is beat up with water, it will require more salt than
when brine is used for that purpose. If it is agood sandy
loam, less sand will do. Where loam cannot be procured,
clay will answer the purpose, but then much moresand will
be wanted. The pigeons will be so fond of this little bank, as
_ not easily to leave it.

2. Take the head and feet of 2 gelt goat, boil them till the
flesh parts from the bone: take this flesh and boil it again in.

tity will do: add to these a pound and a half of cummin-seed ,

Sa mn aca

PIGHONS PREVENTED. LEAVING HOME. 5G

he same liquor, till the whole is reduced toa jelly: then put
sn some clean potters’ earth, kneading the whole together to
the consistence of dough, which make into small loaves, and
dry them in the sun or oven; but be careful they are not
burnt: when they are dry place them in the most convenient
parts of the pigeon-house, when the pigeons will soon peck
at it, and, liking the taste, will not leave it but with regret.
Some make use of a goat’s head boiled in urine, with a mix-
ture of salt, cummin, and hemp.

3, Others make a repast, of millet fried in honey, with the
addition of a little salt and water.

4, Lastly, there is nothing superior to the true and gent-
sne salt-cat, ifmade as follows: Take sifted gravel, brick-
makers’ earth, and the rubbish of an old wall, a peck of
each; or if you use lime snstead of rubbish, half the quan-

a quarter of a pound of bay-salt, or salt-petre; let these
ingredients be well mixed together with as much stale
urine as will make a stiff cement. Let it be put into old tin
pots, kettles, or stone jars, with holes in the sides for them
io peck at it, only let them be covered at top to prevent their
dunging it.

When pigeons are withegg, they are generally very fond
of lime, and it is of great use in hardening the shell of their
egg; and by this means they are kept from pecking the
mortar off the tops of the houses ; though the damage they
do js trifling, their beak being not long enough to loosen
any tile that is properly fixed. — The salt and urine provoke
their thirst, and, they being of very hot nature, occasion
them to drink often, which is of great service to them. The
strong smell of the cummin-seed pleases them much, keeps
them at home, and allures others that are hovering about
and straying from home. The oily nature of the earth isa
great help to them in the discharge of their soft meat, when
they are feeding their young ones; and the gravel scours
their craws, and is of great service in promoting digestion.

Pigeons are remarkably fond of salt; nor is there a cure
for scarce any of the disorders to which they are subject,
without the assistance of this ingredient 5. which proves that
instinct the wise Creator bestows on animals, for the neces-
sary preservation of their welfare: and accounts for the

a ge

60 ’ PIGEONS PREVENTED LEAVING HOME.

extraordinary fondness pigeons have for the mortar that is

‘found in old “walls, which contains a salt little inferior to the

common salt-petre: for which reason some place cakes of
salt candied against the walls of their pigeon-houses.

We have now given copious and, we trust, satisfactory
directions for the choice and management of those pigeons
that are most advantageous for country- people, or others,
who breed them for market, or keep them for pleasure ;
and, no doubt, this NEw Prgron-FAncrer will be found
a useful and instructive GUIDE.

TO THE ADMIRERS OF SONG BIRDS.

Just Published, embellished with Twelve Engravings of
CHOICE SONGSTERS, PRICE 1s.
Tuomrson’s New and Complete

BIRD-FANCIER:

OR,
Bird-Fancier’s Recreation and Delight ;
Gentaining Lnstructions for Catching, Taking, Breeding, Rearing and
Managing ali the various sorts of Song Birds:
WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION

and cure of their several Distempers, and learning thein to sing to
the greatest perfection, &c. dec.

PUBLISHED BY T. KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER-ROW,

AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
eed Ye

W. Hill, Printer, Bank-street, Maidstone,

University Library,
i sit from

TO THE PUBLIC.

The following very interesting little Works are pariici-
larly recommended to- ihe Aitention of the Parents and
Guardians of British Youth, being calculated to wmipr ess
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MILLER’S ORIGINAL SCRIPTURE HISTORY ,
For the Improvement of Youth, illustrated by upwards
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Enlargements by the Auihor. In 26 Nos. price Gd. each.

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