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DEDICATED TO THE YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FANCIER
OF TAME, DOMESTICATED, AND FANCY PIGEONS.

TREATISE

BREEDING AND MANAGING
TAME, DOMESTICATED,

AND

FANCY PIGEONS. -

CAREFULLY COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORS, WITH OBSERVATIONS, CONTAINING
ALL THAT I§ NECESSARY TO BE KNOWN OF TAME, DOMESTICATED, AN?
= FANCY PIGEONS.

5; BY
JOHN MATTHEWS EATON,
AUTHOR oF THE Anwonp TUMBLER.

“ All that a Man knows, or ever will know,
is by Observation or Reflection.”
Locke.

PUBLISHED FOR, AND TO BE OBTAINED OF, THE AUTHOR,
7, ISLINGTON GREEN, LONDON,

1852,

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TO MY

YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED BROTHERS

IN

THE FANCY.

When I had concluded my Treatise on the Almond Tumbler, and about to bid
you farewell after having given you all my observations and reflections on the
subject, I called your attention to the “ Wise Man’s Saying,” p. 49, “There is a
time for all things, and the time had arrived for us to part.”” Judge of my surprise,
with my pen in hand, endeavouring to compile a Work on Tame, Domestic, and
Fancy Pigeons in general, as encouraged by the acknewledged best Fanciers that —
ever lived, and, in page 5, informed you that I considered there was nothing so
base as ingratitude, and I cannot bring my mind to bear otherwise, and brand
myself with ingratitude, if I did not attempt to compile a Work worthy of your
acceptance, after the highly complimentary Testimonials of the Press; besides
many letters from all parts of the country to the same effect, and at the same time
pressing me to write a Work on Fancy Pigeons in general; I repeat, judge of
my surprise, appearing before you again in so short a time; it was the last of my
thoughts after having completed my Almond Tumbler, for on that, I can assure
you, I caught a Tartar,

Should the Work, or compilation, which it is my intention to lay before you,
not please you, after reading it over, blame yourselves and not me, for endeavouring
to carry out your earnest entreaties ; for I can assure you it is no joke to bring
out a Work on the subject, for it will make enemies of a few waspish, crabby, old
Fanciers, (who sit behind their half-and-half and blow their baccy, whose names
are not known in the Fancy out of the holes and corners they sit in, “but they are
not all the Fanciers in the World!”) who do not wish the young Fancier to
know more than answers their purpose. The first time the idea struck me of
writing the Almond Tumbler, I mentioned my intention, which caused some to
laugh: when silence was restored, a gentleman remarked that if I wrote one he
would answer it; it may be this put a damper upon me and my work at the time,
and I abandoned it: time rolled on—I gained more experience—all the world in
Exhibition, I was desirous of bringing out something ;
after racking my brains (which I think, generally, is about as clear as mud ina
wine glass) the idea of the Almond Tumbler struck me, and which I brought out.

ark the remarks that was made upon it by men who did know better, that they
“did not believe I had the ability to produce such a work.” I believe, two or
three informed me, that the portrait of the Almond Tumbler as frontispiece,
was excellent, for which I went to considerable expence, being determined to
give the Young Fancier a high standard to breed up to; they had cut the
portrait out, went to considerable expense for frame, but burnt the book, (very
pleasant to hear !) Others went so far as to give the credit to my much respected
and esteemed Brother Fancier, Mr, Dean Wotstennoume, as the Author; but
who was the engraver of the Portrait of the Almond Tumbler.

I cannot help thinking but that I am justified in stating the facts of the case
efore my Brother Fanciers,—after having written .my work, and prior to
Sonsigning it to the Press, I thought it “nothing but right” to read it over to
Some friend or friends. I prevailed upon Mr. Woxstennoitme, whose judgment
upon Pigeons in general is second to no man, and whose honesty in these
matters qualifies him for an impartial umpire upon any occasion; and also upon

my much esteemed respected old school-fellow, a young and inexperienced Fancier,

1v.

who had not much time, and less money to lay out in the Fancy, and was a
common-sense man ; before these two friends of mine I read over the manuscript ;
Mr. WoustENHOLME. gave me two ideas and no more, which I will give yon. p. 9.

First.—Sir Joun Szsriaut said, he would produce any given feather in three
years; but it would take him six years to obtain head and beak.

Second.—(p. 32, on my writing of Beak.) “ By breaking the upper mandible
when the bird is a few days old; but it may be detected, from the injury it has
received, similar to our own flesh when we have received a severe pinch; it may
also be detected in the bird when grown up, by the position of the beak, it has an
unhatural appearance, the beak pointing upwards.” For these two ideas I feel
grateful to my friend and brother Fancier—the Animal Artist. The case was very
different with my much respected, esteemed, and old school-fellow, Henry Masor,
who would not tell a lie to oblige a friend, or hurt a foe. He was not an experienced
Fancier, not having been long enough in the Fancy. He stated most positively
to me, that he could not give a single idea. But he thought, without altering the
idea, by transposing some of ‘the sentences, would read better. He did so; we
read them over, and greatly approved of the transposition, for which I feel
grateful. I am aware there are a few Fanciers who would have given the credit
(provided there was any due) to Mr. H. Masor, it would not do, simply because
he was not a sufficient Fancier.* It appears to me some few of the hole-and-
corner Fanciers was quite willing to give the credit, as I said before, provided
there was any due to any one save me, the Author.

* Allow me in this part to give you a portion of a Letter I received from my
much respected old school-fellow, Henry Magor, on board the ‘‘ Peru,” lying
wait to sail for Geelong, Port Phillip, Australia :~—

** 2nd Sept, 1852.
“ Dear Eaton,

“In case you were not able to come down here to see us
once more, I thought I would drop you a line to say, We are well, and going on -
as well or better than we could expect, &c. &c. I trust that every incident that
may happen may serve to reconcile us to a voyage, and to life on the other side of
the Globe, &c. &c. Remember me to Dean WoLsTEeNnnoLmg, and every Brother
Fancier (if I may have the vanity to call myself one), convey my best wishes and
téll them, when I am far away I shall still bear them in remembrance.

“ Farewell, ......««. and believe me to remain,

“* Yours most sincerely,
« HENRY MAJOR.”

Why was I so great an admirer of Magor, he was a man of integrity and a lover
of truth, and would yield to no man if he thought he was right; in argument, on
different topics, at times, we were mountains high, (but we agreed to differ,
believing each other sincere,) and to use an expression of his elder brother,
Mr. Grorcre Masor, that he carried about him so large a quantity of Carboni
Gas, he was afraid to come near him for fear of being ‘“‘ Blown Up,” :

Vv.

But for the unkindness I had received from some few, prior to my writing the
Imond Tumbler, I promised them I would be a thorn in their side before I had
one with them, and that was the thorn, that not only stuck in their side, but

their throat also; at the same time, should I bring out the work I am attempting
at, I expect it will stick in their gizzard ; for endeavouring to open the eyes of
the young and inexperienced, by instructing him to read, mark, learn, and
inwardly to-digest, to open his eyes and look out of the windows of his under-
standing, to think for himself, and not to take all for granted what he hears ata
Pigeon Show for Gospel. Although my Almond Tumbler has now been published
eighteen months, the gentleman who promised to answer it has not at present,
and I sincerely hope your head and mine will not ache until he does,

I cannot find language ‘to ‘express my gratitude to the Gentlemen of the Press,
for the very high testimonials they have thought fit ‘to give upon my ‘Work—
the Almond ‘Tumbler; with ‘these flattering testimonials, combined with many
entreaties from Fanciers of all parts of the country, urging me to bring out a
work on Tame, Domesticated, and Fancy Pigeons:—Do you think I am to be
cowed by unkindness? If you do, you do not know what the little Bit of Stuff
that is writing is composed of. It is‘true, I am too sho
know that I am tall enough for a superior Officer ;
soldier has lost ‘his life in a field of battle, simply be

Taken from Franxuin’s Way to Weattu, or Poor Ricuarp Improvep :-—
“Xperience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other,” as poor
ichard Says, and scarce in that; for it is true, “ We may give advice, but we
cannot give conduct,” However, remember this, “They that will not be
counselled cannot be helped ;”’ and further, that “If you will not hear reason, she
will surely rap your knuckles,” as poor Richard says, and is beautifully observed,
“TI was conscious not a tenth part of the Wisdom was my own which he ascribed

to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and
nations,” ; .

€¢

Mr. Moore in his Work, Paragraph 5, says, “I have wisely learnt from it to
seek a proper refuge against any ill-natured censures,” To this purpose I beg
leave to prefix your name, Sir Witt1am STAPLETON, Bart, to this Work, and to
assure the World that you who have purchased Pigeons at very considerable prices
do not think the subject below your regard. ;

But the question jis, Where am I to fly to for refuge against any ill-natured
feelings? I purpose Screening myself isimply under these words of F ranklin,
acknowledging that not .a tenth part of the Wisdom upon Tame, Domesticated,
and ancy Pigeons was my own, but rather the gleanings that I have made of the
Sense of the most experienced Fanciers that .ever lived. I have endeavoured to
glean and cater for you, my inexperienced brother in Fancy, and believe me, I am,

as ever thine, to serve thee, a Brother Fancier, who has devoted time, care, and
attention to-the subject.

JOHN MATTHEWS EATON.

4, Istincron Green,
Lonpon,

7th Dec, 1852,

AN ADDRESS, &ec.

Owing to the noise of the rattling of carriages of every description before daylight,
and not being able tosleep for the noise, I got up and lighted my candle, made up
my mind to endeavour this day to contribute more to the Work that I am engaged
upon, than any other day I shall have it in hand. This day, Thursday, 18th of
November, 1852, is appointed for the solemn funeral of the mortal remains of the
immortal Wellington ; such a sight will take place this day as never was witnessed
before in England, and never will be witnessed again. Herichly merited all that
a grateful Nation lavished or bestowed upon him. Filling the office he did, he
could not help the loss of life; but he treasured and husbanded the lives committed
to his charge, and did not spill a single drop of blood more than could by any
possibility be helped ; taking into consideration what he had to accomplish, and
it isa question whether any other man could be found that would have spilled so
little ; notwithstanding, he had some of the greatest and bravest officers that ever
lived. I almost tremble when I contemplate upon the loss of life and accidents
that may take place this day, owing to a grateful Nation paying their last debt of
gratitude to the spiritless body (for the spirit had returned to God, who gave it)
of the Great Iron Duke. Take him for all in all, I believe him to be the greatest
man that has been born into the World, since Jesus Christ, in whom he trusted,
and I believe the Nation believes that he could glory and exult with a confidential
hope, whenever he uttered these words ; for I know that my “ Redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and, though after my skin
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for
myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed
within me.” Job, x1x. chap., 25th, 26th, 27th verses. I may be a false prophet
with regard to my apprehensions as touching the loss of lives or accidents, although
every precaution has been taken that ingenuity could invent.

I cannot help thinking but barricades act the very reverse to what they are
intended for—a stop, bar, obstruction—to stop up, choak, squeeze, and jam the
masses of the people together against the barricades, where there is no flinching
or giving way. These barricades are about breast high, and the pressure from
without is so great, being jammed together against the barricades, that by some
means or other, after desperate efforts, the people are enabled to stoop their heads
and shoulders, to endeavour to get on the other side of the barrier; and in their
attempt from one side of the barrier (experiencing the pressure) they are not
enabled to raise their head and shoulders again, but are trampled to death. For
argument sake admit that the parties within the barrier are screened from the
pressure without. Answer me this question; What becomes of those without,
and are pressed upon the barrier, where it is useless to attempt to flinch? for
instance, take Chancery Lane, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, Farringdon Street, or
‘the Old Bailey, and a hue and cry is raised that the funeral is coming; the rush
is so tremendous, and the pressure so great from the top of Chancery Lane, in
Holborn, to the bottom, close by Temple Bar; also at Bridge Street, from the
people coming over Blackfriars Bridge and Farringdon Street; multitudes rushing
down from Holborn, and also the Old Bailey, from the same cause. It is true
there are barricades, but the simple question is, Whether there would not be fewer
lives lost without them ? people pressing one upon another, which is elastic and

ia

vii.
Sives way ; but it is a very different thing to be jammed against a barricade ;
and it is the outer barricades where the multitudes are stopped that the squeezing
and trampling to death takes place. I write from experience—I have had a few
Squeezes in my time, and the last I experienced, poor as I am, would have given
one hundred pounds to have been out of the pressure, which I never expected
to be alive, and having a strong recollection of the fact, and not any desire to

have such another hug or embrace, I chose rather to stay at home and contemplate
his great ac

such a sight had never taken place in England, and never would again, as will this

day. It is to be hoped that never such an opportunity will ever fall to the lot
of an individual to gain so much glory (as it is called), but that the blessings of
Peace may attend us. The Nation, in its wisdom, found out the only appropriate

me place for all that remains of him, and that was by the side of the immortal
elson,

This grave, which is incomplete, craving the ashes of that great and good
Statesman, the late Right Honourable Str Rozserr Prex, Bart. the greatest and

best Statesman this Country ever produced. He had the Poor at heart, and
caused the Widow and the Orphan Chil

cause of making provisions cheap for the Poor. It was a great loss to the Nation
at the time, there not being a Public Funeral for so goodaman. John Bull isa
heavy, at the same time a deep thinking man. He is not altogether forgetful,
and may reason, that the promise may be long delayed, but cannot come too
late. This may be applicable to the raising of the monument to Nelson. Years
may roll on before the Nation claims the ashes of the greatest and best-hearted
statesman it ever produced, to perfect that grave that lays under the centre of the
dome of Saint Paul’s; then will the Nation have its Trinity in Unity (I do not
mean the incomprehensible union of the three persons in the Godhead.) But
having the greatest Sailor, the greatest Soldier, and the greatest and best Statesman
this country ever produced, laying side by side and their dust mingling together
With.each other. I may not live to witness it, but believe it must take place to
complete the grave. I rejoice to know that I was a False Prophet as regards the
accidents I was fearful would take place on the solemn occasion, which was
averted Owing to the judicious arrangements of the Authorities.

Mr. Moors, at the bottom of Paragraph 6, writes, give me leave to entertain
you with the following story, &c. &c. I have only simply and plainly to inform
you, that it is notmy intention to apologise to you in stating facts.

hievements, and endeavour to instruct you, my young Fancier. I said-

drens’ heart to leap for joy: He was the,

COLUMBARIUM.:

THE PIGEON-HOUSE:
| INTRODUCTION

| NATURAL HISTORY
TAME PIGEONS.

ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL SPECIES KNOWN IN ENGLAND, WITH
THE METHOD OF BREEDING THEM, THEIR DISTEMPERS
_ AND CURES.

The two chief Advantages, which a real Acquaintance with Nature brings to
our Minds, are first, by in : :

Tape Instructing our Understandings and gratifying our +
uriosities ; and next by exciting and cherishing our Devotion.

Boyie’s Experimenta, Parosorny, p. 2.
a
é

BY JOHN MOORE.

LONDON :
Printed for J, Wixrorp, behind the Chapter-House in St, Paul’s Church-Yard.

i

1735,

ie alia ee emai .

noe eee

‘eS ep a NY NN:

Vey on ane

DEDICATION.

nan,

TO
SIR WILLIAM STAPLETON, Baronet.
SIR,

1.—If either Philosophy or Novelty have any allurements, the following
performance, I flatter myself, will afford you some entertainment.

2.—Many subjects the Naturalists seem to have exhausted. Horses and Dogs,
and most of th

have undergone the nicest enquiries; while the Pigeon, that contributes in some
measure to both, a domestic as it were of ours, has been totally neglected.

3.—With a partiality usually shewn to the victor, the Hawk has engaged the
pen of many -a writer: but his prey, that seems to fly to us for protection, has
Scarce met with that, which even the wisdom of the Legislature has allowed it.

4.—I have endeavoured therefore in the following sheets to do some justice to
this bird, and have prescribed the best methods, which long experience has
furnished me with, for its propagation and preservation,

5.—I have wisely learnt from it to seek a proper refuge against any ill-natured
censures. To this purpose I beg leave to prefix your name to this work, and to
assure the World that. you who haye purchased Pigeons at very considerable
prices, don’t think the subject below your regard, and that the Author is,

Your most obedient and most humble Servant,
J. MOORE.

1.—To my young and inexperienced Fancier. I have thought fit to Number the

atagraphs of the late Mr. Jonn Moore’s Work, although it is not so in the .

Tiginal ; conceiving it to be the easiest mode I could adopt, it being my intention
briefly of calling your attention to some of the Paragraphs contained in his Work,
and aving carefully read over his work and entertaining so high an opinion of his
work—COLUMBARIUM, or Tus Piczon Hovsz, I shall, as [ observed before,

be brief as possible, so as not to swell the book out beyond the reach of the more
humble Fancier.

2 and 3.—Mr. Moore apppears deeply to regret the Pigeon should have been so
long neglected by our Naturalists, while Horses, Dogs, and Hawks, have
undergone the nicest enquiry.

4.—There is not any account upon record, that any Pigeon-Fancier (for no
Other could do it) ever contributed so much original matter to the Pigeon-Fanciers
as did the late Mr. Joun Moore, which I will endeavour to prove to you, by and

by, before Ihave gone through his Work ; he was the Pre-eminent of Pigeon-
anciers,

5.—It would appear there were illnatured Fanciers in the Fancy at the period
Mr Jouy Moore wrote his Book, 1735; being a good general, and _anticipating
ioe illnatured censures, he sought protection under a Fancier, Sir Witiiam

APLETON

ere to inform you, who and what Mr. Moore was, and taking the most simple
Way the best: it not being my intention of publishing his account of some Medicines
Prepared by him, with a faithful narrative of some Cures effected by them; the
a trent Of the Medicines and Cures takes up One quarter of the Book, and has
nothing Telating or to do with Pigeons. Mr. M. describes himself thus :-—

T. JOHN Moors, Apothecary, at the Pestle and Mortar, in Lawrence Pountneys
Lane, the first great gates on the left hand from Cannon Street, who formerly
lived at the Pestie and Mortar, in Abchurch Lane, London,

e animals that serve for the conveniences or amusements of life,

Baronet, to whom he dedicated his Work. I think it will be Tight —

ae a on On

PREFACE.

DODD L AD DPD DPD IANOD PD INOPS RINNE III

6.—Though the History of Birds in general has been given us by many hands,
and i Some parts in a very accurate manner, yet the study of this genus of birds
Seems In a great measure to be neglected by most of our naturalists, who have

Siven us but very short cursory descriptions of some of the species. 3 i rith- -
Standing seas Ane, a y ptio me of the species, in which notwith

a 3 guilty of many great mistakes, and entirely left out man

othersin their lists. Ithas amazed me on Sa sale
pee fo see so great an indol th

branch spread itself in such an universal a eae peroular

Z ner through all our i i
especially considering the vast opportunities they have fal oF sis awe Ea ec
ave given their readers the utmost satisfaction by the most exact and ample
descriptions, At is notorious to all mankind, what vast numbers of these birds in
in all the species have been and are still kept in this kingdom, not only by persons
in a lower rank of life, but even by persons of the greatest distinction and the first
degrees of quality, who have held these birds in so great esteem, that they have
endeavoured to attain at least an experimental knowledge of them, purchasing,
ata great expense, as many of the distinct sorts as they could hear of and cultivating
them in their own houses ; Riewarp Aruerton,Esq. of Atherton Hall in Lancashire,
who was a gentleman both of will and ability to prosecute his fancy in this branch
of natural history, was building a stately house in Lancashire, on the top of which

6.—Entertaining so high an opinion of Mr. Moorn’s Work, it is not my intention
to quarrel with him, he appears to me to be somewhat hard to please, like many more
in the World—in several parts of his Work he bitterly complains of the Naturalists
and Ornithologists, of their indolence in not giving us an account of Fancy Pigeons,
and those that did give us but very short cursory descriptions, and in this have
been guilty of great mistakes. Mr Moorz might have saved himself a good deal
of uneasiness if he had only have asked himself the question, How can a learned
man write on a subject he did not understand? It must be the work of a Pigeon
Fancier to write on Fancy Pigeons, considering the standards they are endeavoured
to be brought up to; to sum it up those who did not write and those who did, did

Rot please Mr. Moorr. I imagine for a moment, two of your most eminent

Wranglers, who had never kept a Pigeon in their lives, was set to wrangle on the
five properties of a Fancy Pigeon, a subject. they were totally unacquainted with,

Mowing no more of the five propertics of the Pigeon than the Pigeon knew about
them ; it would therefore follow, as wise men, the less they said the better. I will
now, my young Fancier, put it to you, will you remain quiet and not write, or write
UPON a subject that you do not sufficiently understand. Mr. Moons, in continuation
of the same paragraph, says: ‘‘ especially considering the vast opportunities they
have had, or might have had, ‘“‘ what opportunities they might have had,” learned

XIV.

he designed to have four turrets, in which his pigeons were to be disposed according
to the nearness of relation between the different species, but death put an end to
the undertaking in the year 1726, to the immense grief of all those gentlemen of
the Fancy who had the honour of his acquaintance: he was a very compleat judge
of a Pigcon and would spare neither cost nor trouble to procure the best; he had
one pouting cock which he valued at five pound, and a very choice collection of

men could not be made Pigeon Fanciers in five minutes ;” neither by placing Fancy
Pigeons in a shew pen for them to make their observations upon, would have
enabled them to have written upon the five properties ; but they may have
“ exclaimed as many others at first sight—very pretty, very pretty indeed,” which
reminds me of a gentleman, a good Fancier, who retired into the country,
taking with him his best birds, but what disheartened him when he bred a good bird
he had no one about him to shew it to, who knew how to appreciate its properties,
and others who saw it said it is very pretty: he would rather have heard a fault
found with one of the five properties by a good Fancier, than that anything but
sweet music by persons who do not understand them, by saying very pretty, very
pretty indeed.

The loss of a spirited Fancier like Ricuarp Arnerton, Esq., of Atherton Hall,
Lancashire, who, as Mr. Moors observes, was a gentleman both of will and ability,
besides being a very complete judge of a Pigeon, and would spare neither cost or
trouble to procure the best, and had a very fine collection must have been severely
felt by the Gentlemen of the Fancy of that day; and is equally as severely felt by
the gentlemen of the Fancy of the present day, when they sustain the loss of a
good Fancier. It is quite clear that in Mr. Moore’s day, as now, that not only the
lower rank of life, but even persons of the greatest distinction and the first degrees
of quality kept Pigeons ; I would here particularly guard you against having too |
great a variety of Pigeons, otherwise you will know a little of all the species, but |
nothing about one as it ought to be known. It is a grievous thing when we hear
talk of a man being so clever at all things, yet nobody would employ him, simply
because he is not sufficiently clever in one thing ; the fact is, he is Jack-of-all-
trades and master of none. Now I sincerely hope you will not make such a Fancier
as this; I have heard some of the best Carrier Fanciers, and some of the best
Pouter Fanciers, when asked their opinion on the Tumbler, have stated that they
did not know anything about the properties of the bird, not having studied them,
owing to having given their whole attention to one species, cither the Carrier or
Pouter’; nevertheless, I should be very sorry to give either of these Carrier or
Pouter Fanciers (I have in my mind’s eye) the choice of going into my aviaries or
lofts, to pick out what Tumblers they chose, although, comparatively ‘speaking, they
did not know the Tumbler, as compared to the Carrier or Pouter. I am sorry
whenever I hear of a Carrier or Pouter Fancier giving them up; they are most
splendid birds, and well worthy the attention of good Fanciers. It is possible i
there may be a few Fanciers that have a good general knowledge of Fancy Pigeons, if
but there are many more who labour under a delusion by supposing they know,
which they do not. “The five properties of the Tumbler, Carrier, and the Pouter,

.
.

KV.

many other kinds. The same methods have been taken in most other countries
as well as England, to gain this experimental knowledge, as in Holland, France,
Spain, Germany, Turkey, Persia, and Morocco. In the three last of which places,
the Monarchs themselves have officers, called keepers of the Pigeons. Having
thus mentioned the King of Morocco, give me leave to entertain you with the
following story out of the Sieur. Mouette in his travels through that kingdom.

7.—There was among the other captives in Morocco, one Bernard Bausset, a
youth about twenty-five years of age, and one of the family of the Baussets, ancient
consuls of Marseilles and born in the town of Aubaigne in Provence; he had the
keeping of the King’s Pages’ Clothes and Arms, and of the Stores laid up at the
first gate of the Seraglio; besides which, he taught two of the king’s children to
speak Spanish. That prince having taken a liking to, and desiring to raise him

igher than the Christian religion would allow of ; he tried all possible means to
oblige him to become a Mahometan, and perceiving he could not prevail by fair
means, very often had recourse to severity and ill usage. Being one day highly
provoked at his constancy, and laying hold of the pretence of two or three bits of
straw he saw lying before him, and of Bausset’s neglecting to cause the way
between the two gates of the sera

seraglio to be swept, he caused him to be stripped
stark naked, and two blacks, with each of them a handful of leather straps to give

him above five hundred stripes; so that his body was all over as black as a shoe,
In this condition, he sent him with two heavy chains to be cured in our prison, and
several days after called for, and asked him, why he stayed in the Bitte, so they
call the Slaves’ Prison, whilst his meal was stolen. It seems that day a sack had
been taken out of one of the magazines that are near the gate of the Seraglio. Sir,
said Bousset, I stayed there ever since you sent me, and durst not come away,
without your orders. Hereupon the king struck at him with a spear, and hurt him
under the right eye, and then ordered his guards to cast him into the Lion’s Walk:
that walk is like ‘a court between four high walls, joining to the castle, and was
parted from our Bitte or prison, by a wall, but three hands in thickness, which
the lyons once undermined, and had like to have got in to us.

8.—The youth hearing that sentence pronounced, ran to the ladder that went up

to the place, intending to throw himself in, before any other came to do it, The
ing dismounted from his horse, and went up after, bidding him change his
religion, or he should be immediately devoured by the lions. Bausset resolutely
answered, he was not at all concerned at it, since that was the way to make him
happy ; for they could take but one life from him, which would end gloriously, and
he had rather the lyons should devour his body, than that his soul should become a
prey to devils. Hereupon the king drew near the edge of the wall, to cast him
down headlong; but Bausset, who observed him narrowly, perceiving his design,

leaped himself amidst four lyons, of a monstrous size, who had not been fed in
three days.

are So opposed to each other in the standard as laid down by the Gentlemen of the
Fancy, that only bothers and confuses the young Fancier if he attempts too much
at Once ; therefore, my advice to the young Fancier is, to make himself master of
ne of the species of the Fancy first, and I have no doubt his observations and
*ellections will teach him that he has his work to do, in giving his whole attention
to one species, I have very little opinion of a person becoming A. 1. in the Fancy,
WEN yes far too much-at once 3 therefore, I caution you not to attempt with
different Sorts. But to return to Mr. Moorn’s amazement and astonishment, he
might have saved all this, if he had drawn this inference—How very few was
competent to write on the subject, it being the work of a Fancier,

XV.

§.—Those creatures beholding their prey, rose up, and roaring put themselves
in a posture to fall on him, whilst he offered up his prayers to heaven. But they
as if with-held by some secret Power, presently lay down again. Yet some of
them soon after got up, and made towards him, and being near passed by,
without touching him, among the rest, one that was most ravenous came up to
him seven times, and passed by as often. Thus the captive, like another Daniel,
praised God, amidst those fierce creatures, which had not the power to hurt him.

10.—The king, who withdrew as soon as he fell in, sent twice to see whether he
was devonred, and in case he was not, to offer to take him out, if he would turn
Mahometan ; but he returned them the same answer he had given to the king
himself. We were all at our prayers to implore the divine assistance upon him,
and having made some holes through the wall, that parted us from lyons to see, we
encouraged him to be resolute and die, rather than renounce his religion, which
he zealously promised us.

11.—In the mean while a Spanish woman captive went to petition the king for
Bausset’s deliverance. She was called Mary of the Conception, born at St. Lucar
de Barrameda in Andalusia; came to Mamora, to carry home her husband, who
was banished, and they were both taken returning into Spain. Having abundance
of wit, without the least immodesty, she had gained the king’s affections, who
granted her whatsoever favour she asked either for Moors or Christians. She was
called the common mother of all persons in distress, for she never thought much
to sue for them. Her husband, whose name was John de Cormona, and she, had
had the charge of the king’s Pigeons and fed the lyons. The king having a
kindness for Bausset, was pleased she should intercede, and gave orders immediately
to have him taken out. No sooner had he spoke the word, than all the pages
ran, striving who should be foremost, and left the king alone, at the first entrance
into the Seraglio, which so highly offended him, that he called them back, and
laid eight of them on the floor, all bloody and wounded with his scimitar.

12.—However, when his wrath was appeased, the captive woman redoubled
her entreaties so earnestly, that he could not refuse her, but ordered that she
should go with her husband and one Prieur, a surgeon of Poitiers, to take Bausset
from among the lions, which was accordingly done, when he had been there five
hours; for he leaped in at four, and came out at nine. Some days after, the lyons
shewed not the same respect to three Faquers or Doctors of the Law of Mahomet,
who took upon them to reprove the king for his cruelty, and were therefore cast
into the same place, and immediately torn in pieces by the lyons. This story was
well attested, brought to Paris, and put into the hands of the reverend fathers the
mercenarians of Paris, to satisfy such as may call the truth of itin question. How-
ever, I had not made use of this story, only as it shews that even kings have been
roud to confer the greatest favours upon those who were no more than the
reer of their Pigeons. Thus we see how the knowledge of these birds has been
propagated and encouraged in most parts of the World at a very great expense, while
every observer had still this natural History to obtain in the same experimental
and costly way, and was often grossly imposed upon by having a mixed strain
put into his hands instead of the real species ; yet notwithstanding all this, and
the ease wherewith it might have been accomplished, I find an almost profound
silence among the Naturalists upon this head.

13.—I have, therefore, ventured first to launch forth into this new science, not
being insensible that I shall leave much room for others to make great improve-
ments, if any shall hereafter think it worth their while to follow that track which
I have only pointed out to them; and I hope the learned world know how to make
allowances for a first attempt in the advancement of any kind of knowledge. (13 *)

13.—To the young and inexperienced Fancier,—I am particularly desirous of
calling your attention to Paragraph 13. ; it is nearly worth the whole of the

OTR ET

XVii.
Paragraphs put together, until we come to the considerations of the properties of

the Pigeons as laid down by the standards, which we have to breed up to and
Surpass if possible,

The late Mr. Jouy Moors here most distinctly states positively, without evasion \

or equivocation, that-he was the first to launch forth into this new science, and T
am bound to believe him, having never seen an earlier Work on the subject ; at the
tite Ta writing, 1852,.and Mr. Moorn’s Work was published in 1735, being 117
Years 260, the inference I therefore draw is, that it is true; it would be folly in a
young Fancier to state it was not true, unless he was prepared to prove it by books
of an earlier date, as old Fanciers would know that the young Fancier was not
old enough to recollect it. It is my intention to reprint the whole of the late

t. Jony Moorn’s Work upon Pigeons word for word, and if any inaccuracies
arise, it wil] be the fault of the Compositor, it not being my wish to alter a single
letter, believing his Work to be the original upon Fancy Pigeons, and is the:
Sreundwork from which all other Works on the subject have been taken, which»
by -and by, I Shall endeavour to prove; had it not been the fact, Fanciers of that
time would have contradicted ; Authors, Compilers, and Commentators, would
ave handed it down to posterity ; and to prove my assertion, I would recommend
“ies young Fancier to obtain as large a library as possible on the subject. I shall
give you the late Mr. Joun Moorn’s Work, Columbarium: or the Pigeon House,
Word for word, There will not be any occasion for you to strive to obtain a copy,
and which if you did, I believe would be labour in vain.

I would recommend you to obtain a Treatise on Domestic Pigeons, inscribed to
Joun Mayor, Esq., the Author concealing his name, printed for and sold by
C. Barry, Ingram Court, Fenchurch Street ; sold likewise by P. Srevens. near
Stationer’s Hall, Ludgate Street; A. Wesiey, Holborn; and J. Watters, Charing
Cross, 1765 ; also a Worki-'The Complete Pigeon Fancier, by Danter Grrtin, Esq.
printed for ALEXANDER Hoa, 16, Paternoster Row, London; also, a Treatise
on the Almond Tumbler, Author not named, printed for ALEXANDER Hoag & Co,
16*Paternoster Row, London, 1802 and 1804 3 ‘also, the Naturalists Library, that
part which relates to Pigeons; Ornithology, Vol. 5th, part 3rd, by Pripnux Joun
Surpy, Esq, F.R.S, EFS »M.W.S., &. &. 5 W. H. Lizars, 8, St. James’s

Square, Edinburgh; S. HicuLey, 32, Fleet Street, London; and W. Curry, Jun.,
~ and Co., Dublin, 1835; also, the Dovecote and the Aviary, by the ReverEenp
S E. S. Drxon, M.A, 3 Joun Murray, Albemarle Street, London, 1851; also,
_ Perur BoswELL, on Pigeons, sold by GuorcE RovuTLep¢s, 36, Soho Square, —

a. (Af f Zé a 2 f Pe wy A
Ondon. v OBE, HAL her Rition ff nar®”¢ Sie wee a ee Ee

I cannot help thinking but that I am justified, and I think this the best place
0 call the attention of the Gentlemen of the Fancy to a very great error, that
is printed in a clever little Book,—being a compilation on Bees, Pigeons, Rabbits,
and Canary Birds, by Peter Boswext, Esq:,—Greenlaw, to be obtained of GzorcE
Rovian, 36, Soho Square, London, 1846. The ‘error’? which I wish to
call your attention to, is in page 42. of the Work, and runs thus :—The best
authenticateg Treatise on Domesticated Pigeons, especially regarding the fancy
Varieties, wag published by Barry, of Fenchurch Street, in 1765. That Treatise

Cc

ao Tipe Oe € Ba / 2b. Ad. GT KRY 4%

Ih +
fer ~

XViii.

has been succeeded by Moorn’s Columbarium, and some others, founded on their
authority ; the very reverse is the fact of the case, Mr. Moorr’s Work “ preceded
instead of succeeded,” exactly thirty years. Mr. Moorn’s Work was published in
1735 ; whereas, the Work published by Barry, of Fenchurch’ Street, was 1765, and
is inscribed to Jonn Mayor, Esq., the Author concealing his name. It is very
likely that Jonn Moors, the Pigeon Fancier, was in Heaven at the time the
Work was printed. (There is something in the year 1765 which I never can
forget, and that was, the year my late excellent and much respected Father was
born, December 7th, 1765.) The compilation in which this error is discovered,
is, as I said before, a clever little Work, and, although there are errors in it
which could only be discovered by Pigeon Fanciers, it is written with so much
candour by Peter Boswext, Esq , thatif he had had the two Works by him, the
error would not have crept in, and no doubt will be rectified in the next edition;
at the same time little knowing how much of his Work, although not taken direct
from Mr. Moorr’s Work, (possibly he never saw it) contains so much original
matter belonging to Mr. Moors. I informed you before, the clever little Work
treated upon Bees, Pigeons, Rabbits, and Canary Birds.

Allow me to inform you all I know about Bees. On one fine summer’s evening,
about forty-five years ago, a schoolfellow and I were going to a place called
the Pound, in the New River, to bathe, in passing through Canonbury Fields we
stopped to see a gentleman who was Fly Fishing with house flies, which he had
in a bottle, we were surprised at how fast he caught the various fish ; we made
up our minds to try our luck at this new science of Fishing, for neither of us,
I believe, had seen it before, at all events, with such success ; I can almost fancy
I now see us on the bank, for I have a strong recollection of the fact—although
my schoolfellow, brother Bob, (George Freeman), for we were two young disciples
of old Izaac, is dead; my much respected old schoolfellow, Henry Major, and
myself followed him to the grave—with our traps already to begin Fly Fishing ;
we had stiff bottom rods, this was not from choice but from necessity, we knew
very well what we stood in need of; but having our pockets oftener to let than
tenanted, I hope I may be spared the trouble of trying to impress it upon your
minds that we were poor, not from choice but from necessity. All being: now
ready to commence Fly Fishing, we discovered that we had made a little mistake,
that of coming without the flies in the bottles ; we were too good pupils of old Izaac
to be daunted, owing to our forgetfulness, recollecting that hope and patience
supports the Fisherman. It was a beautiful fine evening when we saw the
gentleman Fly Fishing; but the following evening when we thought of going at
it, was bitter cold, we looked round the fields and trees for May flies (although
it was in June), or any other fly, we were not particular, flies being scarce owing
to the coldness of the evening, we looked out hard for flies, but it was labour in
vain ; we got disheartened for that evening and agreed to put up our traps. I felt
as though I wanted something to warm and awaken me up 3 at this moment a Bee
came flying by, I knocked him down with my hat, told my schoolfellow I expected
to take a large Chub with it ; I almost imagined I heard the fish to say to my bait
as Lintended—I’ll eat you, body and all; but I expected the hook would stick

KIX.

in his gill or somewhere else; I was not very particular, but reasoned with
myself, that a large bait deserved a large fish, I was sanguine in my mind that
I should catch a rum-un—so I did; have a little patience with me.and I will tell
you all about it, I was a good arithmetician, and understood Cocker well for
my age; alittle learning is a dangerous thing,—I was aware that the Bee had
a sting, and always supposed the fang or trunk in the head was the sting, but
not be wrong in my Cocker, and it is acknowledged in a multitude of council
there is safety. I consulted my brother Bob where its sting was, and he pointed
out to me its trunk which only confirmed my opinion, (and I thought two heads
better than one if they were only calves’ heads, which they proved to be) ; although
I had knocked the Bee down with my hat, I had only stunned it; being aware
where its sting was, and acting with the utmost caution, narrowly watching with
all my eyes his trunk, I proceeded with the courage of an Angler, bat with an
especial eye (on its trunk lest it should sting me) to place it on the hook; quick
as lightning I dropped my rod, as though red hot; I was half way down the field
upon one leg before you could have said “ Jack Robinson,” my brother Bob ran
after me to know what was the matter with me, he never would have caught
me, had he not run cunning like the hound—“ on the bias ;” do you suppose
I could stop and tell him,—no more than the man with the cork leg,—if it had
been possible I could have stopped, it would have bothered me, not knowing
myself; my brother Bob no coubt thought I was cracked; he certainly was
right this time, but decidedly wrong as to where the sting was; I knew I was
cracked, it was very small, what it wanted in size was made up with virulence.
I have often thought of it in my sober moments, what it was that caused me to
go upon one leg, and when that I was tired to go upon the other, like as you
have seen dogs in the street going upon three legs, resting one then dropping
the rested leg, and resting the tired leg; whether the cork leg has stopped yet
I do not know, but the last time I heard of it it was going at a terrible rate; at
last, my legs stopped, and when I came to my old school-fellow all in a sweat—no
doubt a cold sweat—I had a colour like a turnip; we looked volumes at each
other, but the subject would not do to dwell upon. It is said there is not any
mistakes in figures, although persons may be out in their Cocker; I had several
ideas in this little affair, I thought I wanted warming, and, waking up, I thought
a large bait deserved a large fish ; I made sure of catching a rum-un, I did not
care where the hook caught so that it held fast, it was all carried out by the Bee
hooking in the tender part of the thumb—a Jack anda Flat. Several fly rods
since then have come into my possession ; I believe I have never attempted since,
and whenever I see a Bee I am lost in wonder and astonishment at it. Those beautiful
words of Watts ‘‘ How doth the little busy Bee, &c. &c.” comes to my mind, at

the same time always keeping a respectful distance from them for auld
acquaintance; I richly deserved all I got for knocking down an industrious.

Bee, and received my reward, and have not ‘the slightest wish to scrape
acquaintance with them again; I apologized to you to allow me to tell you
all I knew about Bees, I have now informed you.

in part of Paragraph 14, Mr. Moors says, “I have sometimes ehdeatiened to
relax the mind, by throwing in some diverting parts of history, which though not

XX.

altogether necessary to the main purport of the Treatise, will, I hope, answer the
end for which they were designed. Mr. Moorr knew, as a wise man, there was
a time for all things-—a time for hard thinking, and atime to relax the mind. I
am confident that no one will make a good Fancier who has not his head placed on
his shoulders in the right way, and his brains properly scraped, and then it will
avail you nothing unless you exercise those brains in deeply thinking. A thorough
good and acknowledged Judge or Fancier, never acquired his experience by mere
accident, but must be the result of observation and reflection. I entertain very
little opinion of that Gentleman joining a Pigeon Fancy Society, supposing he
knows all about it, unless it be true, (if so, so much the better,) or it opens his
eyes fo conviction and that he is all at sea, there is hope that this person, in
due time, will be a Fancier ; but, on the contrary, that Gentleman never will
that imagines that he sees and perceives through all at once, or at first sight. It
is possible he may do for a Chancellur of the Exchequer, or any thing else (save
a Fancier.) It is wise to mind onr stops, and be a little too slow, than like the
fast Man upon Town, or his Country Cousin—the Go-a-head-man. To return to my
old friend Cocker, to give us the total of this Paragraph; for he knew from his
observation and reflection there was not any possibility of gaining a thorough
knowledge of Fancy Pigeons, but from long study and experience. He was fully
sensible that studying the points and properties of the birds are often tedious and
irksome, and therefore threw in some diverting parts of History ; I have no doubt
some of the young Fanciers will think that I handle the matter too serious 3; I do
not wish to deceive the Fancier, but plainly to inform him, that he has his work to
do; { am fully as sensible as Moors, that it is dry work, and requires to be
enlivened up by facts, stories, and anecdotes. I sincerely hope I shall be able to
get up the steam, and render the subject as pleasant as possible, giving everything
its due consideration, or weighing it in the balance. I fancy I am of too serious a
mood to try my hand at wit, at the same time it is not Philosophy to be unhappy
to-day, because we may be miserable to-morrow, and I cannot help thinking that
‘we may as well be merry: as sad. I cannot tell, my young Fanciers, how you feel
in reading it; I, who am writing it, feel dry, and as Parsons beautifully wind-up,
having finished this Pint, let us have a Full Pot.

I will hope against hope that you have obtained the small Library of Books,
written by the various Authors on the Subject we have now under consideration, as
before recommended ; at all events, I hope you have tried. It may be that you
have obtained the Works. My object in advising you to obtain as large a Library
of Works, and of the earliest dates, upon the subject; then commencing by
reading carefully over a few times the earliest date, say Jonn Moors, 1735, then
read the Work dedicated to JoHN Mayor, 1765, thirty years after Moorz,
carefully comparing the Work 1765, to the Work 1735, and as you read and
compare the Works together interline with your pen, what you find in the second
book what you find in the first, but do not interline that which is not in the first
book, which leaves the un-interlined’ original matter due to the Work 1765; follow
up the plan by comparing Danie GuriRTIN’s Work, without date, to the two
former works, interline all you have read before, but not that information
which is not contained in the two prior, books, which leaves the un-interlined

XXi.

(13*) Tam very sensible that proper Icons are of very great service to illustrate «
Work of this nature ; but this piece being in its kind new, (13+) and not being able

Original matter due to Mr. Danien GiRTIN; proceed in the same way with
the Columbarian Work of 1802 and 1804, and that which you do not interline

- is original matter, and is due to the late celebrated Almond Fancier and
the Author —— Winpus, Esq. Solicitor, Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
Follow up the same plan with regard to the Naturalist’s Library, vol. 5, part 3,
on Pigeons, by Prevx Joun Srupy, Esq. F.R.S., E.F.L.S., M.W.S, &c. &c.
1835. Also, the Dovecote and the Aviary, by the Rev. E. 8. Drxon, M.A. &c. &c.
1851, and what you have not read or discovered in prior dates give each Author
according to the earliest dates the credit of originality, and nothing more; at the
Same time I am aware there are Works published at One Shilling, others at
Sixpence, and I once saw a Work published at One Penny; when you come to
Tead over all the Works you can obtain, after my style of interlining, you
Will then find out to whom the credit is due, as to originality. Read, also, the
Natural Histories, Encyclopedias, some of the larger Dictionaries, &c. &c. in
Search of original matter, then discover how far the Works are the echo and
Te-echo of Works of prior date; if Mr. Moore had seen some of the Works
recently published he would have thought it a burlesque upon Pigeons.

Mr. Moors, in the same Paragraph, states, ‘‘ Not being insensible that I shall
leave much room for others to make great improvements.” Query? I very much
doubt whether any Fancier could surpass his Observations and Reflections ; if a
Fancier could not accomplish it, no other Writer could; with regard to others
following in the tract, which he says ‘‘I have only peinted out to them ;” from
Whatever cause very few have followed him, although many have promised. If it
Was possible for Mr. Moore to have seen the progress that Authors and Pigeon
Fanciers have made after One Hundred and Seventeen Years, he would not have
had any occasion to hope, that the Learned World knew how to make allowances
for a first attempt in the advancement of any kind of knowledge.

13* Moreover, he is fully convinced “ that proper Icons are of very great service
to illustrate a work of this nature,” &c. It is my intention to illustrate this Work
With the best engraved and coloured portraits of Fancy Pigeons, as encouraged by
the acknowledged best Fanciers that ever lived; viz. the Almond Tumbler, the
Black Mottle Tumbler, the Yellow Bald-head, the Red Beard, the Black Carrier,
and the Blue-pied English Pouter. The Portraits belonging to this Work are as
large as life, and, on inspection, will be seen they have never been surpassed.
They will not he bound up with the Work, simply for the more easy reference of
the young Fancier while studying the Work.

18+ Mr. Moore observes, “ the Work being New, and not knowing whether it
Would be attended with profit or loss,’—that appears to me to be the true reading
of it—besides swelling the price too high for many, he abandoned having Portraits
Tather than bad ones, which shewed his good sense. I only wish it was possible
he could witness the Icons, as he called them, that will accompany this Work; it
is possible, provided we could find, and place the portraits over, his grave, like the
“ Tally Hoo” over Tom Moody’s grave, that he is fairly ran down.

xii.

to guess at what reception it may meet with from the World; I knew the expenses of
exact cuts would swell the price too high for many that may have a mind to
purchase this Work; and on the contrary, that if they are not delineated with the
utmost accuracy according to their various characteristicks, they only puzzle tho
mind, and render the description of them more obscure; and, therefore, I chose
rather to have none, than bad ones.

14.—In the sequel of this Work, I have endeavoured as near as possible to
give exact criterions for the knowledge of each distinct species ; and being aware
that bare descriptions are often tedious and irksome, I have sometimes endeavoured
to relax the mind by throwing in some diverting parts of history, which though
not altogether necessary to the main purport of the Treatise, will I hope answer
the end for which they were designed.

15.—Being well assured that this book will fall into the hands of many of the
illiterate part of mankind, who are altogether ignorant of the terms of Art, and
even in the meaning of many words of more frequent use among the politer part;
I have for the sake of such added an Alphabetical Explanation of the less common
words made use of in this Treatise.

16.—So hoping it will have the desired effect, of pushing on some abler Pen,
I commit it at once to the candid censure of Mankind.

14.—It is certain that Mr. Moore must have been a rare Fancier, or he never
could have defined the different species and their properties so true as he has done,
unless he had been a great Observer and Reflector. -

COLUMBARIUM :

OR, THE PIGEON HOUSE.

THE INTRODUCTION.

17.—Zoonocy, or the History of Animals, has been a task in all ages deemed
worthy the consideration of the best and ablest Philosophers, and many branches
of this useful history have been handed down to us from them in an elegant and
instructive manner, showing us the beauty and wisdom of providence and our great
Creator, in the formation of such an almost infinite variety of creatures, and raising
our thoughts to the sublimest notions of that tremendous Being, whose almighty
fiat gave them birth; at the same time teaching us to adore his bounty and good-
Ness in making mankind their superior, and submitting them all to his use. The
contemplation of God in his creatures sets us such a lesson of humility, as ought

to make the proud man blush, and humbly prostrate himself before the throne of

that omnipotent invisible Deity, whose hand supports him in common with the
rute creation
18.—I could wish some abler pen had undertook the work now before me, but

aving examined most of the writers on these subjects, and finding in them either
No account at all, or else a very imperfect and superficial one, which for want of a

17.—We ought to feel grateful to Mr. Moore in calling our attention, or
reminding us, that we are creatures and not the Creator, and that “ All is
Vanity under the Sun.” r

18.—Mr. Moore, over and over again, appears to deeply lament and deplore the
task of writing, or giving information to the Pigeon Fanciers, had not fallen to
the lot of some abler pen than himself. In commenting on his writings to the
same effect prior, I made use of this word—Query. I repeat now again, Query ;
and ask, If ever there was a Fancier who could have done more than Mr. Moorrt
did, considering it was the first attempt at this new Science, and not having any
tract or line pointed out to him to follow? He had examined most of the writers
Mn these subjects, and finding in them either no account at all, or else a very
imperfect and superficial one, which for want of a due opportunity to examine the

Bird they were describing, they have generally taken up at random and upon |

Credit. Mr. Moore says, “I thought it, in some measure, incumbent on me to
attempt a Natural History of this kind, partly as having in my house most of the
Sorts to be described, and partly to provoke other Gentlemen who have more skill
and ability to rescue this part of the History of Animals from that obscurity it has
80 long laboured under.” When the idea struck Mr. Moore to attempt a Natural
History of Pigeons, it was a lucky thought for the Gentlemen of the Fancy, and a
fortunate thing that no one else had attempted it prior, otherwise it might have
Not been half so well executed, and have been the means of preventing Mr. M.
from writing upon the subject, which would have been a great loss to the
Gentlemen of the Fancy.

due opportunity to examine the bird they were describing, they have generally
taken up at random and upon credit; I thought it in some measure incumbent
upon me to attempt a natural history of this kind, partly as having in my own
house most of the sorts to be described, and partly to provoke other gentlemen
who have more skill and ability, to rescue this part of the history of animals from
that obscurity it has so long laboured under.

19.—In order therefore to render this treatise, (which has been so long due from
one part of my countrymen, I mean the naturalists, and so long desired by
another) as compleat as possible, I shall divide this book into two parts ; in the
first I shall treat of the method of keeping, breeding, and preserving of Pigeons,
and in the second I shall give an account of the different sorts, endeavouring to
clear up all obscurities, and render the knowledge and distinction of the several

19.—Mr. Moore observes in this Paragraph, “ in order therefore to render this
Treatise, which has been so long due from one part of my countrymen, I mean
the Naturalists, and so long desired by another,” (alluding to the Pigeon Fancier,
although, he does not exactly say so in his Work, which from beginning to end, is
entirely written and confined to the Pigeon Fancier.) Mr. M. cannot help
thinking that the Naturalists had greatly slighted the Gentlemen of the Pigeon
Fancy. Could a Naturalist have written upon a subject unless he was a Pigeon
Fancier? It is possible a Naturalist might compile and write upon a thousand
different animals and birds for the general reading of the millions, as lions,
tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, camels, dromedaries, camelopards, &c.; or birds,
the eagle, ostrich, or the titlark, and Cochin China fowls, &c. &c. I am not
aware that the Naturalists have raised a standard, or how many properties
constitute the standard, as laid down to test the lion or tiger, &c.; but this
may arise from the want of pluck on the part of the Naturalists in. not going
into their pens, examing their properties or points, for fear of catching :cold.
The Gentlemen who delight in the song of birds, and who understand their
song, as laid down by Bird Fanciers, have as much right to bitterly complain
as does Mr. Moors, that the Naturalists had entirely overlooked them, and had
not given any account of the execution song birds execute; imagine to yourself,
a match made by two Bird Fanciers, each, supposing they had the best titlark
between. wood and wire, to sing a match for half an hour, as a matter of course
the bird. performing the most execution would win; but would it be right and
fitting to appoint a Naturalist to keep score unless he was a good Bird Fancier,
and understood their song, such as weeting, Sweeting, chouing, fearing,
_ whisking, laughing, rattling, and their objectionable song, such as snuflfling,
shiting, &c. I tell you plainly it is the office of the Bird Fancier ; how
frequently do you hear persons say sweet, sweet, pretty dick; supposing the
bird to say sweet, instead of weet, but they do not understand them, whereas,
a Bird Fancier would remain quiet and listen to their song and execution.

Should it so happen that I can attend at the grand Birmingham Show. of
ornamental and domestic Poultry, at Christmas, after viewing the Pigeons, my
attention would he called to see the Cochin China Fowls. As a matter of
course my attention would be directed to those birds that had taken first, second,
or third prizes; prior to that, I should endeavour to obtain the best written

25

_Species facile to all those, who either do or may hereafter delight in the contempla-
tion of this innocent part of the creation; that by comparing any bird with the
Characteristics here given, they may be able to determine not only the species
itself, but to form a tolerable judgment whether it be of the better sort or not: and
to this end I have not only examined those birds of each sort which I keep myself,
but have had recourse to, and consulted most of the oldest and most experienced
Persons that kept pigeons and delighted in this fancy.

——

Work on the celebrated Cochin China Fowl, instructing me of the properties,
how Many there are, and of what they consisted; not that I should know any
more about them; but as every one has a beginning, I cannot he!p thinking
that of obtaining the best Work or Works as laid down by the Gentlemen of
the Cochin China Fancy, to guide the awarding of prizes by the umpires, as
@ppointed by the Gentlemen of the Cochin China Clubs, to be the best and
first step in the right way to obtain a knowledge of these celebrated Fowls,
Which obtained, the greatest number of points, or properties, as laid down; say
five for argument, or seven or nine, it being necessary to have an odd number,
otherwise the two best birds might equally divide the properties, then the prize
Could not be awarded. I said five for argument ; supposing one bird to obtain
Shape and feather, two beautiful properties ; but the bird shewn against it, obtained
the other three properties, whatever they may be, the prize must be awarded
by the judges to the bird that obtained the three properties, notwithstanding
the other bird possessed shape and feather, which, as I observed before, are
truly beautiful properties ; if, on the contrary, the prizes are awarded to the
Seneral appearance of the bird. It is a clear proof there is not any standard laid
down, (it is high time there was), which leaves the Judges and Fanciers in the
dark, not knowing what they are aiming at. Surely, it is not the work of a
Naturalist to lay down a standard, but the work of the Cochin China Fanciers.

With regard to those Pigeons that Pigeon Fanciers consider worthy of a
Standard; namely, the Tumbler, Carrier, and English Pouter: for instance, if
the Tumbler possessed shape and feather, two grand properties ; nevertheless,
if another Tumbler is shewn against it, and possessing the properties of head,
beak, and eye, the bird taking the three properties out of the five, according
‘© the standard laid down by the Gentlemen of the Fancy, must of necessity
be awarded the prize. Again, if a Carrier possessed length and thinness of
Neck, length of body, and great width of chest, which is, after all, only one
Property—shape, also the head ; nevertheless, if another Carrier is shewn against
it, and possessing the properties of beak, wattle, and eye, the bird taking the
three properties out of the five, according to the standard laid down, must be
®warded the prize. Again, if an English Pouter possessed the properties—
Shape, and beauty in feather; nevertheless, if another English Pouter is shewn
@ainst it, and possessing the properties of length of body, length of legs, crop,
the bird taking the three properties out of the five, according to the standard
_ laid down by Fanciers, must be awarded the prize, notwithstanding the general
*ppearance of the bird possessing shape and feather, which, as I said before,
is truly beautiful.

D

Dette es sonics emia

26

Having a standard laid down to test the birds, creates harmony, and removes
unpleasantness. If two Gentlemen of the Fancy agree to shew two Almond
Tumblers for a bottle of wine, bowl of punch, or a rump and dozen; if they
are two free, honest good Fanciers, and their hearts in the right place, they do
not require the umpires to tell them, which has lost or won, knowing that one
pird has taken three, four, or the five properties, although the bird that lost, the
owner would not take ten pounds for it; moreover, it silences the inexperienced

Fancier, who shows for the five properties—his bird possessing shape and feather.
The inexperienced Fancier, from the general appearance of his bird, supposes
he has won, but the umpires inform he has lost, upon head, beak, and eye, of
which he is satisfied; taking the general appearance of a bird, and not having
a standard, is a very childish affair, and produces ill will. It is useless for
umpires to inform a gentleman he has Jost, and that is all he will say; it is better
to have a standard, and point out the properties on which he lost, which would
give greater satisfaction ; besides, there are Fanciers (after the decision of the
umpires) that are equal as good judges, if not superior in judgment, for it often
happens that the umpires do not keep birds; at all events, they have no right
to have any birds contending for the prizes. If there is not any standard, and
you take the general appearance of the bird, you might as well have young ladies
from boarding-schools, for your umpires, who would look out a bird and call it
very pretty. :

The first time I had the honor of attending the Columbarian Society, held
at the Gray’s Inn Coffee-house, London, when the Almond Tumbler that
took the first prize was shewn me, I expressed my surprise, (being a young head
and beak fancier) ; but a gentleman, a good Fancier, made it clear to me, when he
stated that it was the only bird in the pen that came up to the standard—Feather,
which I will give you, viz. three colours—black, white, and yellow, in the nine
first feathers of each wing, and twelve in the tail; see J. M. Earon’s Almond
Tumbler, p.7, on Feather. The Columbarian Society takes notice only of the
Almond Tumbler, and very judiciously have their first prize Feather, to
prevent Fanciers running from Feather. But if, on the contrary, there had
peen three Almonds, all standard birds, then the Umpires would have awarded
the prize to the bird that obtained three properties eut of the five, viz. Feather,
Shape, Head, Beak, Eye. It sometimes happens that the first prize is not
awarded, owing to a standard bird (Feather) not being exhibited.

This celebrated Society have another standard for Almond Tumblers, and that is
for the bird that takes the most properties out of the five, namely, Head, Beak,
Eye, Shape, and Feather, and this bird is, generally, the Lion of their Anniversary. |
Tt so happened, that the bird which was a standard feather and took the first prize, |
came into the possession of a friend of mine. 1 could have had the bird but would |
not, being a short-faced head and beak Fancier, and the bird possessing only one :
property out of the five, which was feather. How different was the case with |
regard to the bird that was the Lion of the Day, which was shewn for the five .
properties ! I could have wished to have bought that bird, but I knew it would |
have been to have offered an insult to the Gentlemen forming that Society, although |

27

20.—But not to detain you any longer with the introduction, I shall in the first
place give an account in what manner to build your loft.

THE METHOD OF BUILDING A LOFT.

21.—A pigeon loft ought to be built to the south or south-west, the sun lying
warmest on them from those quarters; but if you have not that convenience, you
may make a hole in the roof of your house, and there lay yvur platform, smaller
or larger as you think proper. A carpenter that is used to such work will put you
in a method, always remembering to erect proper works to keep off those tor-
mentors of the gentlemen of the Fancy—the cats, for in one night’s time they will

they have a rule privately among themselves, by which any member of the Society
has the privilege of putting up any bird in the pen to auction, and the owner of the
bird has one bid and no more; if the owner of the bird is satisfied with the highest
bid, the bird is sold; if, on the contrary, the owner puts a higher price on the

bird, which often gives it a fresh fillip, and competition begins again, and whoever
is the highest bidder obtains the bird: the bird I am writing of was sold for many
guineas, for I know the gentleman who purchased it.

Why I should have written so much about the standard, I am at a loss to —

know, unless it is to throw out a gentle hint to umpires, who have a standard
to test the birds by—to act strictly up to the standard as laid down, not forgetting
themselves, and taking the general appearance of the bird, or to those Fanciers
who appoint umpires to award prizes where there is no standard laid down; but
the taking the general appearance of the bird, which is sure to give dissatisfaction,
Tn a former part I mentioned very learned men, Naturalists, could write and
edify the general reading of millions ; I now inform you, they could not write
to satisfy a few Gentlemen Pigeon Fanciers, unless they were Pigeon Fanciers
themselves ; Naturalists did write upon Fancy Pigeons. Did they please
Mr Moorn? Certainly not. If we knew his private thoughts, for ought we
know, in his estimation instead of being Naturalists, he may have set them down
as naturals, for writing on a subject they did not understand. In looking over
some of the Works published since Mr. Moorn’s day, was it possible to have
shewn Mr. Moore some of the engravings, and colouring of the tame and
domesticated Pigeons, and to have asked him what birds they were, he, no
doubt, would have answered that he thought they belonged to the eagle, or vulture
Specie, being so unlike the domesticated Pigeons. He expresses his surprise
and amazement at the indolence of ali our Ornithologists; he had examined most
of the writers on the subject, and, finding in them no account at all, or else a very
imperfect and superficial one, (for want of a due opportunity to examine the bird
they were describing), they have generally taken up at random, and upon credit.
He says, “I thought it in some measure incumbent upon me to attempt a
Natural History of-this kind, and to this end I have not only examined those
birds of each sort which I keep myself, but have had recourse to, and consulted
Most of the oldest and experienced persons that kept Pigeons, and delighted
in this Fancy.” He certainly adepted the most wise course he could pursue, to
Carry out his object. .

28

make a very great havock, and are generally observed to destroy those pigeons
which you most value; so that ’tis better to be at some charge first, to prevent the
incursions of such dangerous and fatal invaders, who seldom or never give any
quarters.*

22—Let your loft be large enough to contain the number of pigeons you intend to
keep, always allowing at least two holes or breeding places for every pair; for the
more room they have, the more quiet they will sit, and breed the better ; I once
knew a gentleman, who could not raise three young ones out of nine pair of
breeding pigeons all the spring, and for above three months after, only by keeping
them straitened in too narrow a compass: Whereas, about the latter end of
August, or beginning of September, he moved them into a larger loft, and the
same pigeons bred well, even then, and through the most part of the winter. The
reason of this inconvenience is this, salacious cocks will often be playing to, and
disturbing the others as they sit, and others who want room to sit will fight for
nests, and by this means destroy both eggs and young ones,

23.—To make your breeding places, you may erect shelves of about fourteen
inches broad, allowing eighteen inches betwixt shelf and shelf; for otherwise your
tall powters, by being forced to crouch for want of height, will get a habit of
playing low, and spoil their carriage. In these shelves erect partitions at about
the distance of three feet, fixing a blind by a board nailed against the front, on
each side of every partition ; by this means you will have two nests in the length of
every three feet, and your pigeons will sit dark and private. You may if you
please, fix a partition between each nest, to prevent the young ones from running
to the hen, when sitting at the other end, and cooling her eggs; for in breeding
time, when the young ones are about three weeks old, the hen, if a good breeder,
will lay again, and leave the cock to take care of, and bring up the young ones.

25,—In every nest you must put a straw basket, or earthen pan, both which
are made and adapted to this very purpose; for besides that by this means the
eggs are prevented from rolling out of the nest, you need never handle your
young pigeons, if you have a mind to look on them, which often puts them into a
scouring. Some like the basket best, as judging it warmest, and not so liable to
crack the egg when first laid; others are for the pan, as not so apt to harbour
vermin, and say that the foregoing inconveniences are easily remedied by giving
them a sufficient quantity of clean straw, or frail; the frail is most valued because
it lies hollow, and will last a great while, for when your young ones have left their
nest, ‘tis but taking hold of the ends of the frail, and the dung will shake off it, and
the frail be as fit for use as before.

26.—As for your trap or aviary, it is always built on a platform or floor of deals,

on the outside of your house, that your pigeons may have free passage into it; itis
formed of laths nailed so close together, that the smallest pigeon can’t make its

SS
* 21,—Mavyor, p. 2. Notwithstanding the cats are natural enemies to Pigeons,
it is a common thing to see one in most Pigeon lofts, which are put in there
when very young, and by proper methods being used with them, such as
sometimes beating them with a dead Pigeon, and holding an egg, made hot, to
their nose, which intimidates them from touching the eggs, &c., they naturally
become afraid of them, and will never hurt either the eggs or Pigeons, provided
they are constantly supplied with food; they are extremely necessary in a loft, by
keeping it clear of rats and mice, which are full as destructive to the Pigeons as
the cats, by sucking their eggs, killing the young ones, and even the old ones, &c.
23,—See J.M. Hatoy’s Almond Tumbler, p. 38, 39, &c. “There are,” &c.
25.—Ibid, p. 39 to 41. *¢T have found,” &c,

ae 99

escape through it. Some build these very small, with three doors, one on each
Side, which all draw up together by pulling a single string, intending chiefly to
catch stray pigeons, whom they decoy into it, by strewing hemp-seed, or rape and
canary, which all pigeons are very fond of. Others build them very wide and
lofty, so that four or five persons may conveniently stand in them together, with
a shelf or two on every side, (*) designing them to give room and air to pigeons

of the homing sort, which they are obliged to keep confined ; this practice is .

of very great use, by keeping such prisoners in a good state of health.

27.—In order to complete your loft, you must furnish it with proper meat boxes:
and bottles and stands for water.

28.—Your meat-box ought to be formed in the shape of a hopper, as a reservoir
for their food, it must be covered over on the top, to prevent them from dunging
among the grain; from hence the meat descends into a square shallow box, fenced
in with rails or holes on each side, to keep them from flirting the grain over on the
floor amongst their own dung.

29.—Your water-bottle should be a large glass bottle, with a long neck, holding
three or four gallons, and its belly made in the form of an egg to keep them from
dunging on it. This bottle should be set upon a stand or three-footed stool, made
hollow at top to receive the belly, and let the mouth into a small pan, your water
will by this means gradually descend out of the mouth of the bottle, as your
Pigeons drink it, and be sweet and clean, and always stop when the surface of the
Water meets with the mouth of the bottle.

30.—The reason of which is this, the belly of the bottle being entirely close at
top, keeps off all the external pressure of the atmosphere, which pressing hard upon
the surface of the water in the pan, which is contiguous to that in the bottle, is too
potent for the small quantity of air, which is conveyed into the belly of the bottle
With the water, and which consequently, as being the lighter matter, rises to the
top of the bottle, as it stands in its proper situation, but the water being sucked
away by your pigeons, that it no longer touches the mouth of the bottle, the con-
fined air exerts its power, and causes the water to descend till they become con-
tiguous as before.

THE METHOD OF MATCHING OR PAIRING YOUR
PIGEONS. ;

31.—Your loft being thus finished and equipped, my next instructions shall be,
how to match or pair your pigeons together; and here we must observe, that
though they are very constant when mated to each other, seldom or never suing
& divorce, except when either of them grow sick or very old, yet it is sometimes
Very difficult to make them couple to your liking.

32.—The best way therefore to effect what you desire on this head, is to erect
Wo coops, usually called by the Fanciers matching places, close together, let the
Partition between be made of lath, that they may see each other, and you may
®asily contrive it so that they may both eat and drink out of the same vessels ;
feed them often with hemp-seed, which will make them salacious, and when you

*26.—J.M. Eaton. With a small private cupboard, to take a wee drop with
these four or five brother Fanciers for “ Auld Lang Syne,” should the mornings be
Cold and frosty ; or, vise versa, to quench the thirst, should it be hot or oppressive
When the coppers are hot.

27 to 31—See J. M. Earon’s Almond Tumbler, p. 43, 44, 45, &c. “ With
regard,”? &c.

31 to 36,—Ibid, p. 10, 11, 12, 13, &c. © Matching and Pairing.”

30

observe the hen to sweep her tail and shew to the cock, as he plays in the other
pen, you may then put her in to him, and they will soon be matched.

33.— But if for want of this convenience, you are obliged at first to put them
both into one coop, always put the cock in first, for three or four days or a week,
and let him get master of the place, especially if the hen be a virago, or else they
will fight so much as perhaps may settle in them an absolute aversion for ever
after ; but if the cock be first master of the house he will beat the hen, if obstinate,
into compliance.

34.—Your pigeons being thus matched, turn them loose into your loft, and let
them chose what nest they best like, or if you have a mind to fix them to any par-
ticular nest, you may effect it in this manner.—Make a lath machine, the length
of your breeding places, closed in at top and bottom with boards, and projecting
out as far as your loft will conveniently allow; one of your top boards must lift up
with hinges, in order to put in meat and water, this you may hang before any hole,
and put your pigeons in it, and when they have been five or six days used to the
nest, take it away, in the night is the best time, and they will keep to that nest.

35.—The same method may be used, and is very good, to prevent your strain
being adulterated by a false tread, which an over salacious hen will often submit
to. Therefore keep them up by this method till the hen has laid both her eggs,
then take it away and give them their liberty, till the hen has fed off her soft
meat, then the hen will begin to be salacious again, therefore at that time confine
them as before, and you are sure to keep your strain pure and entire. This
method is somewhat troublesome, and therefore not worth using but for your best
pigeons; as for those who breed for the dish, ‘tis no matter whether they are
bastardized or not.

TO KNOW A COCK FROM AN HEN.

36.—Having thus informed you how to mate or pair your pigeons, I shall next
give you some instructions how to form a tolerable judgment whether a pigeon be
cock or hen, for in this point the best and oldest Fanciers have been sometimes

deceived ; for this purpose, therefore, take the following rules.
37.—The hen has generally a shorter breast-bone than the cock.

38.—Her vent, and the os sacrum, or bone near the vent, is more open than in
the cock.

39.—Her head and cheeks are thinner, and she does not look so bold as the
cock.

40.—Her coo is shorter, and nothing near so loud and masculine as the cock’s,
besides the cock frequently makes a half round in his playing, which the hen does
not, though a merry rank hen will sometimes show, and play almost like a cock,
and if very salacious, will sometimes tread another pigeon.

41.—And lastly, in young pigeons, that which squeaks longest in the nest, is
generally reputed a hen,

THE GENERATION OF PIGEONS.

42 —We come now to treat of the generation of this bird, that is, the method it
makes use of for propagation of its species ; and here I must acknowledge myself
obliged to Dr. Harvey (*) in his excellent treatise of the generation of animals,

Al.-—Mayor,p 26. Where there are two in anest, the largest is thought to bea cock.
42.—Girtin, p.1385. In treating of this subject, we must candidly. acknowledge,
that we are somewhat indebted to the late ingenious Mr. Joun Moors, for the
light he has thrown upon it.
* 42,—Mayor, p.14. Weare partly obliged to Dr. Harvey in his Treatise of the
Generation of Animals, and partly to other authors.

31

43,—All animals therefore are distinguished into three sorts ; oviparous, or such
as are formed from an egg; viviparous, or such as are produced from the uterus
alive and in perfection; and vermiparous, or such as are formed from a worm.

44,-Though in fact the foetus of all kinds of animals is produced from an egg ;
the only reason therefore of this distinction is, that in some animals, this egg (if I
may be allowed the phrase) is hatched, or brought to perfection in the uterus,
whereas all of the feathered kind emit or lay this egg, and produce their young
from it by incubation,

45.—The Pigeon, therefore, is an oviparous bird; I call it a bird, because all
that belong to this genus feed their young ones for some considerable time
after they are hatched; whereas, the young ones of the fowl kind will search
for their own food, and eat it themselves almost as soon as they are discharged
from the shell of that egg in which they were produced. mo S

46.—It will not here be amiss to give some account of the production of
the egg. Nature produces in the ovary, or upper matrix of the hen or female
bird, a great cluster of small yelks, sticking together like a bunch of grapes,
which from this similitude Dr. Harvey calls a vitellary, and adds that in
Pigeons, he has observed this cluster of eggs to be all of a like magnitude,
excepting only two which were larger than the rest, and were now ready to
descend into the lower uterus or womb.

47,—The cock in the act of coition impregnates these eggs, and by a wonderful
operation of Nature renders them prolifick ; we shall not take upon us here
to determine the method by which this is performed, but shall content ourselves
with observing that their is a spot at each end of the egg, called by the learned,
chalazze, from the resemblance of a small hail-stone, and, vulgarly, the cock’s
treadles ; these, by a mistake, have been accounted to proceed from the emission
of the male, and to contain the plastic virtue of the foetus, but experience
has abundantly proved that these treadles are to be found in all eggs, whether
they are prolifick and fruitful or subventaneous and addle.

- 47.—Mayor, p. 16. The eggs of the smallest birds may be judged by that
of the hen, where the parts are more apparent. We may easily distinguish
the yolk that is in the heart of it, as likewise the first white substance that

surrounds it; and, a second white, in which, the mass in the middle swims ;
pesides these, we can see the ligaments that sustain the yolk towards the centre
of the egg, together with the membranes that enfold it, one yellow, another
black ; and, a third and fourth, that encompass the whole; and lastly, the shell
that defends all the rest. What lies within these inclosures has the first
formation ; the shell makes the last appearance, and hardens from day to day ;
itis a fluxion of salts evacuated from the humours of the dam, and which the heat
- fixes and consolidates round the egg, to form a crust that has a double function—
one is to put the mother into a condition of discharging the egg without crushing
it—the second, is to preserve the young from all accidents till it be formed, and
in a capacity to forsake the egg. We may even say that the egg performs, to
young birds, the office of a breast and milk, with which the offspring of other
animals are nourished, because the little chick that lies in the egg in the state
of a nymph, and concealed under the skin of a worm, is first sustained with the
white of the egg, and afterwards with the yolk, when the animal has gathered
a little strength, and its parts begin to be fixed. Under this membrane that

surrounds the yolk, is found a little cicatrice, oF white spot, which is only the seed

RE TRACERS

32

48.—It is the opinion of most, and that not without great probability, that
all the eggs a hen will ever lay, are contained in this vitellary or cluster, and
that as soon as this number is exhausted, she will become effete or barren.
Some people therefore to abuse mankind, and vend a useless bird, will oil the
vent of a barren hen and force an egg into it, to make you believe she is not
effete; if you happen to be thus imposed on, that you may not lose your
seasons of breeding, by keeping such a hen matched to a good cock, we shall
give a method to prove whether she be effete or not. When the cock drives
her hard to nest, give her a pair of eggs, and let her hatch them and bring
up; pursue this method for two or three pair, if you value her, and if she be
not barren; this, and cross-matching her, that is pairing her to another cock,
will effectually bring her to laying.

49.—Before we leave this head, we cannot omit mentioning the dalliances
‘made use of by this bird before coition, which are in a manner endearing and
peculiar only to them. And here the cock when salacious, will by a voice at
that time peculiarly harmonious, and by several pretty, and as we may call
them, foppish gestures, woo the female, and @ndeavour to incline her to his
embraces; she, if consenting, will soon shew it by her motions, as sweeping
her tail, spreading her wings, and giving a nod with her head, as much as to
say, good sir, you may if you please ; from thence they proceed to billing, in
which action the hen will put her beak into the cock’s, who seems to feed her,
after this she will squat and readily receive his tread.

50.—Your hen by this means being rendered prolific, they will seek out a
nest, or convenient place, for the repository of their eggs, into which they will
carry straw, frail, feathers, and such other materials, as they find proper to form

where the worm resides. The egg, into which this little animal is injected,
becomes prolific; but that wherein no such creatures can be discovered, wants
the seed, and contains only a barren nutriment. The females sometimes lays eggs
without any congress with the male, but they never produce anything. ‘The little
chick, under the form of a worm, is continually situated on the yolk, and always
ascends to the top of that side where the warmth of the dam attracts her; but as
it would be quickly overthrown were it removed, and in such case would no
longer be sensible of the heat that is so necessary to its welfare. The yolk is
poized by two ligaments, which are always visible at the aperture of the egg, and
fasten it on each side to the common membrane that is glued to the shell. Should
one draw a line from one ligament to the other, it would not exactly pass through
the middle of the yolk, but above the centre, and would cut the yolk into two
unequal parts, so that the smallest part of the egg is of necessity raised towards
the belly of the bird that performs the incubation, and the other part being more
gross and weighty, always descends as near to the bottom as the bands will permit,
by which means, should the egg be displaced, the young could not receive any
injury, and whatever may happen, it enjoys a warmth that puts all about it
in action. and by degrees completes the disengagements of its parts. As it is
incapable of sliding down, it nourishes itself in ease, first with this liquid and
delicate white, which is adapted to its condition, and afterwards with the yolk,
which affords a more substantial food ; and when its bill is hardened, and he
begins to be uneasy at his confinement, he endeavours to break the shell, and
does so in effect; after which, he issues out with his belly covered with the
yolk that nourishes him a little longer till the parents supply him.

@ Warm and soft reception for the egg, neither party being at this time idle,
though some are more industrious than others, on this account, who will lay
their eggs almost on the bare boards.

51.—When a hen is nigh the time of her laying, her mate will pursue her
from place to place, not suffering her to be quiet in any place but her nest, out
of a peculiar instinct, I suppose, fearing his offspring should be lost, by her
dropping her egg in some place improper for incubation. And here you must
observe that some cocks are so very hot, that they wont, at such a time, suffer
a hen almost to eat, this will render her very weak, and often make her lay a
thin-shelled or imperfect egg; to prevent this inconvenience, the best way is

to take the cock from her, till the egg be, come to a greater perfection in the |

uterus,

52.—Pigeons though they will make a great increase in a year, yet it is

not from the number of eggs they lay at one time, for they lay but two, and
then immediately proceed to incubation, but from the frequency of the repeated
hatchings, which generally happen once in five or six weeks, according as they
are good or bad breeders.

53.—When a Pigeon has laid her first egg, she rests one day between, and
on the succeeding day lays her second ; they generally stand over the first egg,
which, if you please, you may call an improper incubation, till the next is
laid, and then sit close, that both young ones may be hatched at once, or pretty
nearly; though some will sit close on the first, and by that means hatch one
young one two days before the other.

54.—The time of a Pigeon’s incubation, which trouble is equally divided
‘between the cock and hen, except that the hen always sits at night, is nineteen
or twenty days from the first egg, and seventeen or eighteen from the last,
at which time you ought to observe whether the eggs are hatched or not, for
two special reasons :

__ 55.—First—Because your young ones, for want of due heat, which often happens
if the old do not sit close, may want strength to extricate themselves out of the
Shell, and so die in it for want of air and proper sustenance; for the nutriment
they received from the internal part of the egg is by this time exhausted ;
whenever therefore an affair of this nature happens, if the egg be chipped or
cracked with the force of the young one, break the shell all round with your
nail, or the head of a pin, and you will find your account in it.

_56.—Secondly—If your Pigeons do not hatch, because their eggs are addle, or
otherwise, you ought to give them a pair, or at least one young one to feed off
their moist meat, which would else make them sick, and they will be apt to

lay again too soon, which will weaken them very much.

57.—The young ones being thus ushered into the World, naturally leads us to
take a view of the manner in which it receives its first sustenance. We have
already mentioned soft meat, which is nothing else but a fine soft liquid pap
prepared as it were by instinct by the parents, by a dissolution of the hard
grains in their craw, against the time that the feetus is first disclosed, when
weak, naked, and helpless; this soft meat they throw up out of their craw,
taking the beak of their young ones in their own, and by this means injecting
it into theirs; with this meat they continue feeding them for six or seven days,
when they begin to mix some harder food amongst it, until at length they feed
them with all whole grain.

——

53 to 58.—Sce J. M. Eaton’s Almond Tumbler, D. 18, 14, ‘‘ Much will,” &e,
Pp. 33, “© When you,” &c. |

E

34

THEIR DIET.

58.—We come now to treat of their diet, or the food proper for Pigeons. (*)
The Pigeon is a graniyorous bird, and may be fed with various sorts of grains, as
tares, horse-beans, pease, wheat, barley, hemp-seed, or rape and canary, of
each of which in their order. (+)

59.—Of all grains, tares are found to be most adapted to these birds, and old
tares are much the best, for the new are very apt to set your Pigeons into a
scouring, especially the young ones; the same will likewise happen from old
tares, if they have by any means been touched or immersed in salt or sea water :
for though Pigeons love salt, yet too much is very pernicious, as for instance, if
in a voyage you give them salt water instead of fresh you will soon kill them.

60.—Horse-beans are the next food to tares, but you must take care to get
them as small as possible; there are a sort which they call small French ticks,
which are good food, and somewhat cheaper than tares, but liable to two
inconveniences; first, they are much harder of digestion, and consequently, will
not so readily make soft meat for the young ones. Secondly, your Pigeons are
sometimes apt to be choaked with them, especially young ones, and such whose
oesophagus or gullet is any ways inclinable to be small, as in most long necked
Pigeons it is, I had a carrier the other day, which fell down off my house into
the yard, and when it was taken up, (I not being at home) it gaped, as I was
informed, as if for want of breath, and died in a few minutes, it was very fat,
and seemingly in good health; I opened it, to see if I could find any cause from
within, but all its internals seemed perfectly sound and in good order, at last
examining more strictly. I found a horse-bean, and that not a very large one,
sticking in the lower part of the gullet, which, with some little difficulty, I pulled
out; and this, I verily believe, was the only cause of its death.

61.—Pease, wheat, and barley are apt to scour your Pigeons too much,

therefore you ought to give them very little, if any, of this sort of food.

62.—There is a sort of diet, called Scotch meat, which is pease, beans, and
tares mixed together, some people feed their Pigeons with this, because cheap,
but the beans are generally apt to be too large.

63.—Hemp-seed, rape and canary are food that Pigeons are very fond of, but
by no means ought to be made their constant diet.

64.—N. B. Even French tick beans are not proper for Dutch Croppers, or any
large cropt Pigeons, because they are apt to make them gorge.

THE SALT CAT.

65.—Being thus entered on the head of diet, it necessarily leads us to consider
a certain useful composition called by the Fanciers a Salt Cat, so named, | suppose,
from a certain fabulous oral, tradition of baking a cat in the time of her
salaciousness, with cummin seed, and some other ingredients as a decoy for
your neighbour’s Pigeons; this, though handed down by some Authors as the
only method for this purpose, is generally laughed at by the Gentlemen of the
Fancy, and never practised.

_ 58 to 64, See J. M. Earon’s Almond Tumbler, 43, 44, 45, “‘ With regard,” &c.
* 58.—Girtin, p. 113. The common Pigeon gives but little trouble, yet the fancy
birds require a great deal of attendance.
+ 58—Mayor, p. 27. The late grand duke of Tuscany, who was a very great
Fancier, used to feed them with the stones of grapes, which in that country are
ery plentiful, and call them together by ringing a bell.

35

66.—The right salt cat therefore is, or ought to be thus made: Take gravel or
drift-sand, loom, such as the brick-makers use, and the rubbish of an old wall, —
or for want of this a less quantity of lime, let there be a gallon of each; add to
these a pound of cummin seed, a handful of bay salt or salt petre, and beat them
all up together into a kind of mortar, mixing them up with stale urine, and your

Pigeons will take great delight in it. —

: 67.—The gravel or sand helps to scour their craws, and is of great service to
digestion.

68.—The loom being of an unctuous, oily nature, isa very great assistance to
them in the discharge of their soft meat, or other meat when they are feeding
young ones.

69.—The lime or rubbish helps to harden the shell of their egg ; and you will
find by experience, that when with egg they are prodigiously fond of lime, and
will have it some way or other, if possible. By this means therefore you keep
them from pecking the mortar off your own, or your neighbour’s houses, though
the damage from thence accruing cannot but be very trifling: for the whole
lensth of their beak, and farther they cannot go, cannot reach far enough to
loosen any tile that is naturally firm. se

70,—The salt and urine is a great provocation to drink, and this is no small
service to your Pigeons, which are of a very hot nature.

71.—The cummin seed, which has a strong smell in which Pigeons delight, will
keep your own Pigeons at home, and allure others that are straying about, and
at a loss where to fix upon a habitation.

72.—The best way is to put your salt cat in jars, with holes in the sides for
them to peck it out; and a cork at top to prevent their dunging on it, and to keep
off the rain, or any other contingencies if exposed to the weather"

DISTEMPERS OF PIGEONS.

73,—We come now to treat of the several distempers incident to birds of this
kind, and to prescribe the various remedies generally made use of in their cure.

74.1, The first disease therefore that we shall take notice of is, the
corruption of the egg in the uterus ; this generally proceeds from an unmatched
hen being over salacious, by reason of high feeding, or some other cause, who
will often without the coition of the male engender eggs, but seldom without his
concurrence either perfect them or bring them forth, so that they will corrupt in
the Womb; the only remedy for this is to put her to a cock in time.
_ 15.—2, The wet roop next falls under our consideration, and in this case, once
in two or three days give them three or four pepper corns at most, and put
a handful of green rue in their water, you may let all your Pigeons drink of it,
for it is very healthful.

"3 t9 98.—See J. M. Earon’s Almond Tumbler, p. 45, 46,47, 48. “Asa,” &c.

73 to 98.—GirTIN, p. 124. In treating of the diseases relating to Pigeons, we
shall chiefly follow the sentiments of the late Mr. Joan Moore, who was not
‘Only a very judicious Fancier, but also a gentleman of the faculty, who spared no
pains to make himself acquainted with the diseases of these birds, and to apply
the best method of cure, therefore, without further apology, we shall take him
for our guide. Mayor, p. 34. after guide. —We come now to treat of the several
distempers incident to birds of this kind, and to prescribe the various remedies
generally made use of in their cure. Mayor anD Girtin gives word for word
the late Mr. Joun Moore, on distempers and cures, and nothing more.

36

76.—3. The dry roop, which you generally distinguish by a husky cough; and I
am apt to believe proceeds from a cold, to which they are very liable, especially in
molting time; to cure this, give them every day three or four cloves of garlick.

77,—4. The next distemper that falls under our cognizance is, the canker, which
proceeds mostly from the cocks fighting and pecking each other, though some
people have assured me, that giving them water in a tin vessel, will likewise throw
them into this disease. The method of cure is this, take burnt alum and honey
and rub the part affected every day and it will cure it; but if this happens not to
take effect, dissolve five grains of roman vitrol in half a spoonful of wine vinegar,
add it to the former composition, and rub the part affected. Some people will take
off the scurf and make it bleed, before they apply the remedy, but I am apt to
believe, you will generally find it searching enough without,

78 —5. If the wattles or flesh round the eyes of the carrier, horseman, or barb, are
pecked and torn, wash them first with stale urine for several days ; if this does not
do, dissolve two drams of alum in an ounce anda half of water and wash the part
grieved; but if the case be very stubborn, mix twenty grains of red precipitate

with half an ounce of honey, anoint the part therewith and it will certainly effect
the cure.

79.—6. Pigeons, especially in the Summer season, are apt to be troubled with
small insects, which the Fanciers term lice; in this case, smoak their feathers well
with the smoak of tobacco, and it will infallibly kill them.

80.—7. There is another sort of small vermin,
will often kill your young ones in the nest, by cree
when first hatched, and always prevent their thriv
dust in the nest, and over your young pigeons,

which are very troublesome, and
ping into their ears, &c. especially
ing ; to hinder this, strew tobacco
and it will destroy these vermin,

which are called pigeons bugs by some, and by others the blacks,

81.—8. Another disease to which they are subject is gizzard-fallen, that is, the
gizzard falls down to the vent. The gentlemen of the faney, say

it proceeds from
ith too much hemp-

weakness, though I rather believe it is caused by feeding w
unless nature herself works one, which it

seed. I know no cure for this malady,
sometimes will in young pigeons,

82.—9. The next distemper is what the Fancy calls navel-fallen ; in this case,
there is a kind of a bag hanging down near the vent. This malady is generally

desperate; and if giving them clary, or some other strengthening things won’t
cure them, I know nothing that will.

83.—10. Pigeons are liable to be pap-arsed, as the fancy callit. This distemper
proceeds either from a natural innate weakness, or from a cock’s being too salacious
and treading his hen: too often; I know no cure for it, except flying will do it.
Young pigeons and carriers are most subject to it especially if not flown.

84.—11. Some pigeons, as croppers, and powters, are apt.to gorge themselves,
that is, when they have been too long from grain, they will eat so much that they
cannot digest it, but it will lie and corrupt in the crop and kill the pigeon, If this
therefore at any time happens, take the following method,

85.—Put them in a strait-stocking, with their feet downward, stroaking up the
crop, that the bag which contains the meat may not hang down; then hang the
stocking upon a nail, keeping them in this manner, till they have digested their
food, only not forgetting to give them now and then a little water, and it will often
cure them; but when you take them out of the stocking, put them in an open
basket or coop, giving them but a little meat ata time, or else they will be apt to
gorge again.

86.—If this does not effect the cure, you may slit the crop from the bottom
with a penknife or sharp pair of scissars, take out the corrupted meat, wash the crop,

and then sew it up again. This method has been practised with some success,
though the crop will not be so round as before.

37

_87,.—Others will tie that part of the crop, in which the undigested meat lies,
tight round with a string, and let it rot off, This method never fails, though it
Spoils the shape of the crop.

88.—12. The next and most fatal distemper incident to this kind of birds is the
Vertigo, or (as generally styled by the Fancy) the megrims; in this disease the
Pigeon reverts or turns its head, in such a manner, that the beak will lie on its
back, and will flutter and fly about at random. This distemper is usually reckoned
incurable, and indeed it too often proves so; though I once had a turbit, of the
owl kind, taken with it in a violent manner. Some gentlemen seeing it, advised
me to pull the head off; I told them, I would first try if I could not cure it, which
they asserted to be impossible ; however, I took about a quarter of a pint of
Water, an ounce and a half of spirit of lavender, one drachm of spirit of sal armo-
Mac distilled with quick lime; these I mingled altogether, then I tasted it, and
found it too strong for the bird, and therefore added a little more water; I believe
i three or four hours, I poured down its throat, at three or four times, a spoonful
and a half of this mixture, for I had rather it should die than live in that condi-
ion ; at last it began to discharge a white slimy substance upwards and down-
wards, but did not care to feed that day; the next day I found it better, though
Still it would hold its head on one side, or awry. This medicine I gave it every
third or fourth day, still lessening the quantity; I gave it garlic the days betwixt,
and sometimes two or three peppercorns till perfectly recovered: I am not certain
Whether this pigeon ever bred afterwards or no.

89.—13. If your pigeons do not molt off kindly, or stop in their molting, so that
they don’t throw their feathers well, it is a certain sign of an ill state of health: to
temedy this, the following method will be of much use.

, 90.—Pluck their tail-feathers out, and put them up in some warm place, allow-
ing them a larger portion of hempseed with their ordinary food, a little saffron, or
Clary, steeped in their water, is likewise very beneficial ; some will give them
elder-berries or cochineal for this purpose.

91.—14. Your pigeons likewise, especially in molting time, will be subject to
Scouring, which keeps them very poor, low, and out of flesh, ‘T’o cure this, give
them pump-water with a lump of chalk in it, or put about the quantity of two
horse beans down their throats every day ; if that don’t effect the desired end, give
them some smiths forge water down their throats which is very binding. A
gentleman told me, that having been informed, that gravel was good for his
pigeons, he gave them some of the grit that is left in the trough under a grindle
stone, where they ground edge tools, and it bound them so much that it killed
most of them; a little of this may therefore be good in case of scouring.

92.—15. There is another distemper, which is called the small pox, in which
there rise, on their legs, wings, and body, eruptions or pustules full of a yellow
Matter. Some open them, and apply burnt alum and honey, or touch them with

Oman vitrol, and it will cure them.

93.—16. When your pigeons are sick, lowering, or hanging their wings, give
them every day a spider or two, wrapt up in butter, and if you dare trust them
let them fly. ana t

94.—17. Pigeons will be sometimes lame, and the ball of their foot swelled, either

through cold, or the prick of a nail: in this case, spread some venice turpentine on

own paper, apply it to the part, leave it there till well, which it will be in a very
few days.

bu

95.—18. The flesh-wen comes next under our consideration, which is no more
ta fleshy tumor, arising on the joints of the wings or legs: this may be either

Cut off, or opened, and after having taken out the kernel, wash it with alum water.

96.—19. The bone-wen is an ossificated tumor, arising upon the joints as before :
this is seldom or never cured, and the pigeon that is affected with it will never

38

breed. Some pretend to cure it, by a composition of quick lime and black soap ;
but if you make it.too strong, or let it lie on too long, it will take off the leg or
other part that ’tis applied to, for it is a caustic.

97.20, The last distemper I-shall take notice of is a core, so called because it
resembles the core of an apple; it is hard and generally of a yellowish colour,
intermixed with red, and is usually found in the anus or vent. This when ripe
may be forced or drawn out ; and in order to ripen it and keep them loose, give
your pigeon so affected a purge of tobacco; a very small quantity is sufficient: I
have known this make them discharge the core themselvesy I once knew a pigeon
affected with this sort of malady, in the oesophagus, or throat, some part was taken
out, but the bird. died.

THEIR USEFULNESS.

98.—Having thus’ instructed you how to breed, preserve and cure your
pigeons, we shall next show their usefulness in human life.

99,—It is a bird well known to be much used by way of food; and here I shall
give you the remarks of one or two authors upon this head. Mr. Lemery in his
treatise of foods, after having advised to the choice of young pigeons, that are
tender, fleshy, and well fed, proceeds thus, ‘They are nourishing, somewhat
binding, strengthening and provoke urine: they are looked upon to be good for
cleansing the reins, and to expel the gross matters that stick there.

100.—As.a pigeon grows old, so proportionably does its flesh become dryer, and
more solid;. harder of digestion, and so fit to produce gross and melancholy
humours; and hence it is, that some authors have condemned the use of pigeons,
and look upon them to be bad food.

101.—“ They agree at all times with any age and constitution, but those that
are melancholy ought to make use of them more moderately than other persons.”

102,—Dr. Salmon in his Seplasium, or English Physician, which I look upon as
the best book he ever wrote, says, “The flesh is not so easy of digestion as that of
chickens. Authors say that eating of their flesh is profitable against the plague,
insomuch, that they who make it their constant or ordinary food, are seldom
seized with pestilential distempers. Others commend it against the palsie and
trembling. Others say it is of great use and advantage to them that are dim-
sighted. The flesh of young pigeons is restorative, and of good use to cure such
as are in consumptions, and to recruit the strength of such, as are getting up, or
newly recovered from some great sickness: It is indeed savory and good food,
and not much inferior to the most esteemed. The anus of a live pigeon, applied
to the biting of a serpent, viper, or rattle snake, draws away the poison and cures
the sick, being renewed as often as the pigeon dies; applied to the soles of the
feet in a fever, it draws away the fever, and helps the megrims or head ache. Cut
up alive and applied to the place pained, eases the pain and draws away the malig-
nity, if any be; for the vital spirits yet remaining in the hot flesh and blood, do
insinuate themselves through the pores of the skin, into the blood of the sick
person, now dispirited and ready to stagnate, enduring it with new life and vigour.
Potestates made of the flesh, admirably cure consumptions, and restore wasted
flesh. “

103.—“The blood put warm into the eyes allays pain, cures blear eyes, and
also green wounds.

104." & of the blood 3ji, honey 3vj, white sugar candy 3ij; grind them

together till they are well mixed, for the purposes aforesaid; as also against
suffusions, blood-shots and other distempers and weaknesses of the eyes.

105.—* The coats of the stomach. KX of them powdered 3j, opium in fine powder
4 grains, catechu in fine powder Dij ; mix them. Dose 12 or 18 grains every night
at going to bed.

39

106.—“ The Doctor has left us in the dark what distemper this medicine is
esigned to cure, but I am apt to believe it is for a diarrhea, yet I can’t see of
what use the coats of pigeons stomach can be, unless from their diuretic quality.

107.“ The feathers, of the ashes of them 3{3, sanguis draconis, fine

bole, sheeps blood dried, fine aloes, ana 3j; mix them. It stops bleeding in any
part, being applied.”

THEIR DUNG.

108.—Having thus shown you something of the usefulness of. this bird, both in
food and physic, I cannot omit saying something of its most excrementitious part.

109.—The dung therefore of pigeons challengeth the priority, not only of the
dung of fowls, but of all other creatures whatsoever, on the account of its useful-
ness in human life.

110.—Its benefit in agriculture is so well known to some farmers, that PLat gives
an account of those that have fetched it sixteen miles, and given a load of coals in
ieu of it. Where he observes, that in the place it was fetched from, it would have
done more hurt than good, whereas where it was carried, it did as much good as
double the charges; in the one soil it cured the barrenness, whereas in the other
it would have poisoned the fertility.

111.—It is of a very hot nature, from the nitrous quality wherewith it is endued,
and therefore it is a very excellent soil for a cold, moist natured ground. It is
generally used for wheat and barley that lye afar off, and not easily to be helped.
One load of it is worth ten load of other dung, and will go as far in manuring of
eid. It is generally sown after the same manner as the grain, and harrowed in
with it.

112,—It is likewise extraordinary good soil for a hop garden.

113.—Tanners make use of it in tanning the upper leathers, and if you pick and
sift it, will give you eightpence a bushel for it, provided you send it home to their
own houses; so that this article, and the young squabs will nearly, if not quite
maintain your pigeons in food, provided you buy it at the best hand, and take care
to keep them clean.

114,—Dr. Salmon, in his ‘treatise before mentioned gives us the following
account of its usefulness in medicine. :

115.—* It is, says he, of common use in cataplasms or plaisters which rubify and
draw strongly. Beaten, sifted, and mixed with water-cress-seeds, it is good against
chronic diseases; such as the gout, megrim, vertigo, cephalza, pains in the side,
cholic, apoplexes, lethargies, &c.” :

116.—After this he gives us several recipes in which the dung of pigeons is a
Main ingredient, as,

117.—“ 1K. Of the dung in powder Ziiij, barley-meal or flower 3iij, vinegar
q.f. mix them, to make a cataplasm against scrophulous and other like hard tumors.

118.—“2 K. Of the powder of the dung 3ij, bears grease Jiiij, pepper in
powder 3j, oil of cummin seed 3 {3; mix them for an ointment against baldness.

119.—“3 RK. Of the dung in powder Jiiij, black soap 3iij, oil of amber 3j,
Mithridate 3ij; mix them, for a cataplasm to ripen a plague sore.

120.—“4 K. Of the powder of the dung 3j. Powder of winter cherries 33
Cromwell seed 3ij; mix them and make a powder against the stone. Dose, from
from 33 to 3j.” :

_ 121.—This dung is used likewise in salt-petre beds, and is of very great advantage
in the nourishing and production of it ; and till the days of Oliver Cromwel, we had

no salt-petre brought from abroad, but it was made at home, from a mixture of
Pigeons dung, fowls dung, hogs dung, fat earth and lime, which with another

ingredient will form salt-petre, only it must be kept covered with a shed, to prevent
or keep off the rain, that it may only mix with the nitrous quality of the air; and
therefore when this commodity is very dear, as it has often been,.and may be
again, the salt-petre men produce it after this manner to this very day, by
throwing in the scum or refuse of their salt-petre amongst it.

122.—Thus we have shewn the various uses even of the most disesteemed and
excrementitious part; but before we leave this head, we cannot forbear mentioning
the following story out of Tavernier, in the fourth book of his first Volume of
Persian Travels, page 146.

123.—Says he, speaking of the people of Ispahan, “As for their Pigeons,
they fly wild about the country, but only some which they keep tame in the
City to decoy the rest, which is a sport the Persians use in hot weather as
well as cold. Now in regard the Christians are not permitted to keep these
Pigeons, some of the vulgar sort will turn to Mahometans to have that liberty.
There are above three thousand Pigeon-houses in Ispahan, for every man may
build a Pigeon house upon his own farm, which yet is very rarely done, ail
the other Pigeon houses belong to the king, who draws a greater revenue from
the dung than from the Pigeons; which dung, as they prepare it, serves to
smoak their melons.”

COLUMBA TABELLARIA. The Carrier Pigeon.

124.—The Carrier is larger in size than most of the common sorts of Pigeons:
I measured one the other day, whose length from the point of the beak to the
extremity of the tail was fifteen inches; this, though not one of the largest,
weighed near twenty ounces. Their flesh is naturally firm, and their feathers
close, when they stand erect upon their legs, their necks being usually long,
there appears in them a wonderful symmetry of shape beyond other Pigeons,
which are generally crowded on heaps.

125.—The upper chap of the bill is half covered from the head, with a naked,
white, tuberous, furfuraceous flesh, which projects or hangs over both its sides on
the upper part nearest the head, and ends in a point about the middle of the bill;
this is called the wattle, and is sometimes joined by two small excrescenses of the
same kind on each side of the under chap.

126.—This flesh is in some carriers more inclinable to a blackish colour, which
is generally the more valued.

127.—The eyes, whose iris, or circle round the black pupil, is generally of the
colour of a reddish gravel, (*) are equally surrounded with the same sort of furfura-
ceous matter, for about the breadth of a shilling; this is generally thin when it
spreads wide. and is most valued, yet when the flesh round the eye is thick and
broad it shows the carriers to be of a good blood that will breed very stout ones.

128.—This bird is often esteemed, by the gentlemen of the Fancy, as the King
of Pigeons, on the account of its beauty and great sagacity ; for which reason Mr.
Hickman, a distiller in Bishopsgate-street (not of the family of the lying Hick-
mans) when living, always kept a silver hatchet and block, on which he decently
chopped off their heads, alledging, that being of the blood royal, they ought not to
die after the same manner as the vulgar herd.

129.—A carrier is generally reckoned to have twelve properties, viz.

Three in the beak.
Three in the wattle.
Three in the head.
Three in the eye.

* 127.—Mayor, Pp. 86, But should bea fiery red.” Girtin, p. 61. « Ofa aid
brick-dust color.

41

130,—To begin therefore with the first, the propertiés of the beak are to be long,
Strait, and thick.

131,—As to its length, an inch and a half is reckoned a long beak, though |~
there are very good carriers that are found not to exceed an inch and a quarter. Y

132.—The straitness of the beak adds a wonderful beauty to its length, and if
otherwise it is said to be hook-beaked, and is not so much esteemed.

_ 133.—The thickness of the beak is likewise a very great commendation, and if
it a in this point it is said to be spindle beaked, which diminishes something of
its value,

134,—The next three properties are those of the wattle, which ought to be
broad across the beak; short from the head towards the apex, or point of the
bill, and tilting forwards from the head; for if otherwise it is said to be pegg-
Wattled, which is very much disesteemed; and, therefore, some people (*) to

- Impose upon mankind, and enhance the price of an indifferent bird, have artificially

Taised the hinder part of the wattle, filled it up with cork, and wired it in with
fine wire, in such a manner as not to be easily perceptible, especially to gentlemen
who are not adepts in the Fancy.

135.—We come now to consider the properties of the head, which are its length,

its narrowness, and its flatness. When a Carrier has a long, narrow head, and a

2 flat scull (+), it is much admired, and if otherwise it is said to be barrel
eaded.

136,—The last three properties are those of the eye, which ought to be broad,
round, and of an equal thickness; for if one part of the eye be thinner than the
Test, it’s said to be pinch-eyed, which is deemed a very great imperfection ;
Whorees if it has the contrary properties, it is said to have a rose-eye which is very
Valuable.

137.—To these, some add the distance, which is between the hinder part of the
wattle, and the edge of the eye; but I cannot allow this to be a property, because
when a Carrier comes to be three or four years old, if the eye is broad and the
Wattle large, they must of necessity meet: the distance therefore seems to be rather
@ property of the horseman, of which more in its proper place.

138.— Another distinguishing mark of a Carrier is the length and thinness of its
neck, which some call a property ; and indeed it must be allowed to add a very
great beauty to this bird, especially considering the breadth of its chest. (t)

131.—In Moorn’s day an inch and a half was reckoned a long beak, although at
this time, there are beaks that would measure one inch and three quarters, and | |
Some few two inches ; it is infinitely better to have a beak one inch and a half ina )
tight position, possessing the properties, straight and thick, than have a beak <
Upon which tricks have been played when young and coaxed to the length of two
inches, and spindle beaked. The experienced Fanciers are aware how some
Measure, as I said before. Position, thickness, and straitness of the beak causes

- the admiration of Fanciers ; if you refer to the portrait of the Carrier accompanying

this work, you will find the beak two inches full, and if measured from the back of
the head to the end of the beak, nearly three inches, understanding that in some
Parts of the country they measure in this way.

133.—Guirrin, p. 63.. Beak a black color.

* 134.—Mayor, p. 82, ‘‘ To impose upon the ignorant.”

tT 135.—Ibid, p. 82. “‘ With a hollow impression or dent in the middle.”

+ 1388.—Mayor, p 83. ‘The broader the chest the better, for which reason the
head should incline backward, which shews it more advantageously.”

FE

5

42

139.—Its feather is chiefly black or dun, though there are likewise blues, whites,
and pieds of each feather, but the black and dun answer best the foregoing pro-
perties; yet the blues, and blue pieds are generally esteemed for their scarcity,
though they will not usually come up to the properties of the foregoing feathers.*

140.—The original of these Pigeons came from Bazora, in Persia, being some-
times brought by shipping, and sometimes in the caravans; hence by some ignorant
people they are called buffories.

141.—This city is situate about two miles distant from ariver called Xat Arab,
which is formed by the meeting of the two great rivers, Tygris and Euphrates ;
near this place is a small house, like a hermitage, dedicated to Iza ben Mariam,
that is, Jesus the son of Mary; in passing which place, the Mahometans them-
selyes very devoutly offer up their prayers: there is likewise a considerable quan-
tity of land, whose revenues belong to this chapel.

142.—We come now to give an account of the name which is given to this
pigeon, and it is called a Carrier, because it is frequently made use of to carry a
letter from one place to another. And such is the admirable cunning, or sagacity
of this bird, that though you carry them hood-winked, twenty or thirty miles, nay
I have known them to be carried threescore or a hundred, and there turned loose,(*)
they will immediately hasten to the place where they were bred. The Dutch call
this pigeon bagadat, I suppose, from a corruption of the name of the city Bagdat,

139.—According to Mr. Moors, (Paragraph 129,) a Carrier is reckoned to
have twelve properties, &c. and all in that small portion of the bird—the Head ;
allowing no property to test the Carrier by that standard, laid down with regard to
the wonderful symmetry and elegance of shape; although in former times it was
called by the Gentlemen of the Fancy “ the King of Pigeons,” for its elegance and
sagacity. An umpire, unequal to the office he was filling, might award the prize
from a general appearance of the bird (its elegance and symmetry of shape)
although it was not laid down as one out of the twelve properties to test the
Carrier by, and I think we are greatly indebted for the judicious remarks of Mayor.
After all, my brother Fanciers, I will be candid, and inform you, that I do not
believe the Carrier to be an original bird, but bred up to the highest possible pitch,
by the Fancier, from the Horseman—when at this high pitch or standard then it
was called a Carrier, nor is it possible to prevent the degeneration by any art
whatever, which I shall endeavour to prove when I come to the Horseman.

* 139.—Mayor, p. 84. But, in my opinion, the above twelve properties would be
petter, and not so liable to be confused, if they were reduced to five properties, viz.

Ist. The Beak.

2nd. The Wattle.

3rd. The Head.

4th. The Eye.
5th. Length and thinness of neck, and length of body.

But as the gentlemen of that Fancy have not yet taken upon them to fix a proper
standard, as has been done for the Almond Tumbler and the Pouter, the above is
submitted to their consideration. The reducing the twelve properties to five,
simplifies, and is generally adopted by the Gentlemen of the Fancy, who are

appointed te the office of Umpires.
* 142.—GiIRTIN, p. 65. The winged messenger no sooner finds itself at large, than

its love for its native home iufluences all its motions, It immediately flies up into

43

which was formerly old Babylon which Nimrod built, because they judge this
Pigeon in its way from Bazora to be brought through that city.

143.—In Turkey they call them Bagatins or Couriers, and the Turks and
ersians make a common practice of breeding this sort of Pigeons in their
eraglios, where there is one, whose business it is to feed and train these birds, for
the use afterwards designed, which they doin this manner: when a young one flies
very hard at home, and is come to its full strength, they carry it in a basket, or other-
Wise, about half a mile from home, and there they turn it out; after this they will
Carry it a mile, then two, four, eight, ten, twenty and so on, till at length they will
return from the farthest parts of the kingdom. This practice is of admirable use ;
for every Bashaw has generally a basket full of these Pigeons sent him from the
grand Seraglio, and in case of any insurrection or other emergent occasion, he
braces a letter under the wings of a pigeon, whereby its flight is not in the least
Mcommoded, and immediately turns it loose, but for fear of their being shot, or
Struck by a hawk, they generally dispatch five or six; so that by this means, dis-
patches are sent in a more safe and speedy method, than could possibly be other-
Wise contrived. .
144,—N.B. Ifa Pigeon be not practised when young, the best of them will fly
but very indifferently, and may very possibly be lost,
145,—Litucow in his travels gives the following remarkable account: after
having told us of pigeons, that in forty eight hours, would carry a letter from
Babylon to Aleppo, which is thirty days journey, he proceeds thus; “The city
Ptolemais was besieged by the French and Venetian armies, and was ready to fall

the clouds to an almost imperceptible height, and then, with great certainty and
®xactness, darts itself, by some unknown intuitive principle towards its native
Spot, which is frequently at the 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 journey
of forty miles, in the space of one hour and a half; which is a degree of dispatch
three times sooner than thé SWiftest four-footed animal can possibly perform.

Girt, p. 66. Extraordinary attention was formerly paid to the training of
these Pigeons, in order to be sent from governors in a besieged city, to generals
that were coming to succour it; from princes tosheir subjects, with the news of
some important transaction.

143.—GirtTIn, p. 67. In the East, they formerly kept relays of these Pigeons in
Constant readiness to carry expresses to all parts of the country. When the
fovernor of Dalmatia heard the news of the death of Orillo, he let fly a Pigeon,
Under whose wing he had fastened a letter; this fled to Cairo, from whence
4 second was dispatched to another place, as was customary, so the death of Orillo
Was made known to all Egypt, in the space of a few hours; but the simple use of
them was known in very early times: When Modena was besieged, Brutus within
the walls, kept an uninterrupted correspondence with Hirtius without, and this by
the assistance of Pigeons, setting at nought every stratagem of the besieger,
Anthony, to stop these winged couriers. In the times of the Crusades there are
Many instances of these birds being made useful in the service of war. Tasso
Telates one during the siege of Jerusalem; and, Joinville another, during the
Crusade of St. Louis,

&
—
3

=

4d.

into their bands, when the soldiers beheld a pigeon flying over them to the city,
who thereupon set up so sudden and so great a shout, that down fell the poor airy
post with her letter, which being read, was found to contain, that the Sultan was
coming towards them with an army sufficient to raise the seige, and would be with
them in three days; the Christians having learnt this, sent away the Pigeon with
another letter, to this effect; that they should see to their safety, for that the
Sultan had such other important affairs, as rendered it impossible that he should
come to their relief. Upon the reception of this letter the city was immediately
surrendered to the Christians; upon the third day, the Sultan arrived according to
his promise, but perceiving how matters went, returned again with his army.”

146.—That passage of making the Pigeon fall to the ground by the shout of the
soldiers, seems a little too much to savour of Romish superstition ; for it appears a
little unphilosophical, to imagine that the air could be so far broke by a shout, as
to render the strong pinions of so swift a bird useless.

147.—Ovip likewise, in his Book of Metamorphoses, tells us that Taurosthenes,
by a Pigeon stained with purple, gave notice of his victory at the Olympic games,
the very same day on which he gained it, to his father at Aigina.

148,—Witiovexsy also in his Ornithology, and with that I shall conclude the
account of this bird, produces the example of the ancients in making use of
Pigeons for the conveyance of letters; thus Hiritius and Brutus at the siege of
Modena, by means of Pigeons held a mutual correspondence with each other.

COLUMBA TABELLARIA MINOR. The Horseman.

149.—This Pigeon in shape and make very much resembles the Carrier, only it
is smaller in all its properties, viz. Somewhat less in body, shorter necked, the
protuberent flesh upon the beak smaller, as likewise that round the eye, so that
there remains a larger space or distance between the wattle and the eye, in this

Pigeon than in the Carrier. They are generally more inclined to be barrel-headed
and their eye somewhat pinched.

150.—It is to this day a matter of dispute, whether this be an original Pigeon :
or whether it be not a bastard strain, bred between a Carrier and a Tumbler, or a
Carrier and a Powter, and so bred over again from a Carrier, and the oftener it is
thus bred, the stouter the horseman becomes.

150.—If it was a matter of dispute in the year 1735, (it is more so now, in the
year 1852.) Itis quite clear that none of us are able to recollect whether this be
an original bird or not, nevertheless if we have brains, as I said in a former part of
this work, let us endeavour to exercise them ; after reading Moorn, and comparing
Mayor and Gretin’s Work to Moorr’s they are both the same, only altering a
few words, which is the same as regards the sense, or differently placing the
paragraphs ; now as none of us can recollect, and as it was a matter of dispute
one hundred and seventeen years ago, we have the same right to exercise our
judgment (however little it may be) as they had in the year 1735, when this book
was printed, and from which this subject under consideration is taken. I shall
endeavour to tread in the footsteps of that humble and modest Fancier, who I style
the pre-eminent of Fanciers—the late Mr. Jonn Moore, who repeatedly in his
work expressed his wish that the work had been brought out by more able pens,
and hoped it would provoke others with more skill and abilities to follow in the
tract which he had only pointed out, to which I gave my hearty Amen, (Qu ery.)
Do not for a moment suppose that I consider myself equal to the task ; but as a

\

45

humble unassuming Fancier, like Moore, I tell you boldly and fearlessly, without
evasion or equivocation that the Horseman is an Original Bird. That is my opinion,
I throw down the gauntlet to provoke othérs to take it up; some of you may say;
that, although written in such humble language, you should give us the why or the
wherefore it is your opinion, I will endeavour to do so. All the Authors state,
the Horseman is a hybrid, in shape and make very much resembles the Carrier,
Only it is smaller in all its properties, viz. less in body, shorter necked, the wattle
Oh the beak smaller, as likewise that round the eye; there remains a larger space
or distance between the wattle and thé eye, in this Pigeon, than in the Carrier.
They are more inclined to be barrel-headed, and their eye soméwhat pinched. To
sum up this account, although it comes the nearest to a Carrier than any other
Pigeon, altogether less than any of its properties (save thickness of neck and the
want of elegance). I put it to the experienced Carrier Fancier, whether this bird,
taking all its properties into consideration, is a Carrier in miniature. Certainly
not ; how comes it to be so short and thick-nécked and broad-héaded? there are
Horseman of all manner of feathers, and pieds; but Carriers are chiefly blacks and
duns. I have often asked Fanciers how they distinguished between a Carrier and a

Horseman, but they Have thought it too delicate a question to answer. I have, in.

Conversation with some of the most experienced Fanciers heard them say, that if in
breeding from a pair of Horseman they throw ‘and breed an extraordinary bird,
they call ita Carrier; and, if on the ¢ontrary, they breed from an extraordinary

pair of Cartiers, and they bréed plain birds, then they aré called Horseman, and I /

believe this to bé near the mark.

{know two Gentlemen, stout Bird Fanciers (this is the term gelieany made
use of by the Fanciers of Carriers and Horseman); one gentleman said he had
nothing but Carriers, the other said he had nothing but Horseman ; I admired
the Horseman of the one, better than the Carrier of the other, which only proves,
“‘ What is therein aname?” It would appear contradictory if we come to the
feather, for if Carriers breed Horseman, and Horseman Carriers, how comés it
to pass that we have so few Carriers, but are principally blacks and duns, for
we have Horseman of all colours 5 and Iam sensible We have Carriers also; but
very few, comparatively speaking. In Horseman, the blue and pied are most
Noted to be genuine and food, Then how comes it to pass that we have so few
lie and blue-pied Carriers, unless thé blacks and duns ansWer best to breed up
to? It was so in 1735, and is so now, the blacks ‘and duns having been so bred
together. If you were to breed from two blacks, or two duns, or from a black and
a dun, who would take to say what the colour of théeir young would be, very likely a
black and a dun in every nest, or contrary to the colour of the parent bird from
Which they are bred ; yet being a black and dun, Simply, for ought I know; the
blacks and duns, having been bred together hundreds of years back as they are
now, I have no doubt that if the blues had been bred up, as the blacks and duns
have béen, we should have had as elegant for all properties, which 80 characterisés
the Cartier for that elegance atid Wonderful symmetry of shape beyond other
Pigeons. Whereas, the Horseman appears a short, dumpy, thick necked, broad
headed bird. How did it obtain that broad head? Never from the Dragon,

46

Tumbler, or the Pouter, is my opinion; but that the Horseman is the original
bird, and the Carrier is not. Do you suppose for a moment, that the Carriers
of the East, was like the engraving of the Carrier that accompanies this Work?
(see) It is my opinion that it was no more like it, than the Antwerp Carrier is
like it; but who knows what the spirited experienced English Fancier will
bring the Antwerp Carrier to, in the next fifty years. I have seen Dragons
that appeared to come nearer in shape and symmetry to the Carrier, than some
Horseman (but with less wattle) appearing more like a Carrier in miniature. I stated
it to be my opinion that the Horseman was the original bird, and not the Carrier,
I will endeavour to prove my assertion ; imagine to yourself, an old and experienced
Fancier, of forty years standing, possessing the acknowledged best strain of
Carriers, to die, and all he possessed willed over to his nearest and only relation,
a nephew, and among other things, this truly beautiful strain of Carriers comes
into his possession, and being grateful for what he has received, is determined
not to part with this strain of Carriers, knowing the immense pains, and the
delight his uncle took in them (although a novice himself.) I will simply put
the question to the experienced Carrier Fancier, How many years he will give me
before this remarkable fine strain of Carriers degenerate into the original
Horseman? You may put a question to me, and ask me whether they would
degenerate more, by lowering from the Horseman to the Dragon, to which I
should certainly answer, No; believing the Horseman to be the original bird,
and would not sink below its nature. Again, to try to prove my assertion, I
believe the Carrier bred up to the standard, was, and is bred up by the most
experienced Fanciers, from observation and reflection, and a thorough knowledge
of these birds; nevertheless, he has to exercise all he knows, by counteraction
and art, assisted by Nature, who sports and freaks at times, and produces a
wonderful and extraordinary Carrier. Now having this Carrier, and selecting the
very best Carrier from your aviary or loft, I simply put the question to the most
experienced Carrier Fanciers, (it is useless to put it to any one else, you might
as well put it to Aldgate pump), Can you depend upon their young being
extraordinary Carrier birds, as they are called? who, from his experience, would
answer, No! there being such a tendency in these high bred birds, to degenerate
and throw back ; ‘and this is the cause why a good Fancier would rather have the
cast offs, of agood strain, than an apparent good bird that he knew nothing about.
It frequently happens that Fanciers are very strong, and well up with these
birds, and would not take twenty guineas a pair for them, and have not parted
with their best birds, and if you ask them how they are going along, or with
what success they have had during the breeding season, the answer is very bad,
and not bred a bird; the meaning is, not worthy to be mentioned, owing to
the tendency there is to degenerate. It is equally as easy, if not more so, to
breed the Carrier up from the Horseman, as to breed your short-faced Tumblers
for the five properties, from the rough long-faced common flying Tumblers,
having such a tendency to degenerate. Again, the same takes place with regard
to the English Pouter, when bred up to the highest pitch, there being such a
tendency to degenerate,

47

~The Horseman has been a very useful bird, among Fanciers, (which no one can
deny) and has aided and assisted the Fancier in bringing to perfection more
Pigeons than any other.—The English Pouter or Cropper, see paragraph 161 ;
the Pouting Horseman, paragraph 182; and the Dragon, paragraph 156, and what
Thave been contending for the Carrier, paragraph 124. The experienced Fancier
Would be able to discover the original bird, the Horseman; not the Horseman
bred up to the highest possible pitch, from the selection of the two best Horseman
in the aviary or loft, Nature aiding and assisting by giving a little one in; and
an accidental hit would produce an extraordinary bird, then it would be called
@ Carrier, although the same bird bred from Horseman; neither the Hybrid
Dragon, first, second, and third breed, for the oftener they are bred over to the
Horseman, the stouter they become; but there appears something so particular
in the character of the original Horseman, its broad head, its short thick neck,
and its dumpiness, as compared to the Carrier. If we were at a Horseman or
Carrier show—please yourself with which name, for, as I said elsewhere, What
is there in a name?—mark the remarks you would hear; it is possible some
Would say, I do not know when I have seen a better show of stout birds, take
them all for all. You would find a difference of opinion, some saying, I should
Choose that black cock, if it was a little narrower in the head, or more snake
headed, with a hollow or dent in the middle, for we are inclined to think it is
tather barrel headed; others would say, give me the dun hen, provided it was
longer and thinner in the neck, not so short and thick, but more swan necked ;
Others might say, that is the bird for me, provided it possessed more carriage,
and not so spindle beaked, which proves the difficulty of breeding out the
properties of the original marked Horseman; and it is truly astonishing to think
what beautiful birds they are, when you come to consider with what difficulties
the Fancier is beset, in producing the Carrier with all its elegancies, and main-
taining the five properties, as laid down for the standard by the Gentlemen of
the Carrier Fancy, viz.—beak, wattle, head, eye, shape, all combined in a single
bird, and coming from the original bird, the Horseman.

Imagine to yourself, two Fanciers, one styling himself a Horseman Fancier
and the other styling himself a Carrier Fancier, having contended for a long time
as to whether the Horseman or the Carrier is the original bird, both arguing all
they know as regards these birds, which is not a little, being two good Fanciers,
but they cannot agree at this meeting, and take leave of each other, wishing each
Other luck, &c. One thinks a little country air, and being a disciple of Old Isaac
desirous of seeing how his brother Bobs are going along, betakes himself to
Dagenham Reach, and to his surprise meets his brother Fancier and Bob, who he
had only parted with in the morning—the one went by Train, the other by Coach.

hey expressed their surprise and exclaimed, like Darby and Joan, who had 1
agreed to enjoy themselves, for once, with a Duck and Green Peas. Hot! and on HT
table ; ready to begin. Knock at door! A cousin, wife, and four children drops in, ill
and the exclamation is, “Who'd have thought of seeing You!” Neither being Re
desirous of renewing the argument on Carriers or Horseman, but are lost in wonder Te iad
and astonishment at the beauty of the scenery, and exclaim, How delightful is the |

48

151.—The only thing that seems inclinable to favour the opinion, that they are
original, is a strain of this kind brought over from Scanderoon, which will fly very
great lengths and very swift ; but still the answer readily occurs, that they may be.
bred originally the same way at Scanderoon and so transmitted to us, however non
nostrum est inter vos tantas componere Lites, that is, we shan’t take upon us to
determine such controversies as these.

152.—There are of this kind, of all manner of feathers; but the blue and blue”
pieds are most noted to be genuine and good, and if flown are very good breeders*

153.—These are one of the sorts of Pigeons that are chiefly made use of in
England, for the carriage of letters, or flying of wagers; because those that are
possessed of the true original Carriers, which are at pre’ent very scarce here, pay
too dear, and have too great a value for them, to risk their being lost upon every
trifling wager.

154.—These pigeons when regularly flown, twice on a day, that is, tumed out
alone and put upon wing without any others, will fly very large circumferences, so
that after they have made a tour or two round your own house, they will fly four
or five miles out at length and so maintain the circuit for an hour or two: this the
Fanciers call going an end, and is what Daniel Moggs, who was one of the oldest
Fanciers, meant, when he jocularly used to bid his pigeons maintain their length.

155.—This practice is of admirable service to them, when they come to be
trained for the homing part.

scene of Rural Nature to the Philosophic eye and contemplatve mind! and agree to
walk together te witness what sport had attended thei. brother trollers; the first
they enquired of had taken two jack, the second had taken two pike, and another,
brother Bob, had taken two fish—a term well understood by anglers ; now, here
are jack, pike and fish taken, What is the difference? For argument sake, and to
lay a trap for you, I will say, there is none, and that all three are the same fish.
Do not be too cunning, and tell me that a pikeis a year older than a jack, otherwise
I shall put the question, and ask you, Are your stout birds for the first two, three,
or four years Horseman, and as they grow old and become heavily wattled, then

‘they turn into Carriers, although the same bird; which only proves that the
Horseman is the original bird, and the Carrier by the art of man.

In the same paragraph (150), on the matter in dispute I find “* Or” twice; and in
Paragraph 151, one— May Be ;” this is not very definite to argue upon ; therefore,
to render it more clear, and define it to you, I had better throw in the words,
Perhaps, it is possible, but rather improbable that I have thrown some light upon
these words “ or”? and ‘may be;” as we are upon the subject of wonderful Flying
Birds, there are people in the world who say, pigs “ may” fly, others say “ they are
very unlikely birds.” It is the last of my thoughts to dwell upon this subject. I
verily believe I never should, had Mayor and Gir said a little upon it. Instead
of copying Moors only, I could not in my conscience let this, the most useful bird
we have in the whole Fancy (the Horseman) pass unnoticed; considering that it
has contributed in bringing to perfection—the English Pouter, the Pouting
Horseman, the Dragon, and also the Carrier itself. I shall require something
more in argument from those who differ from me, than mere—‘’Tisn’t, ’Tisn’t.”
I shall, therefore, fall in with the views of Moors, the pre-eminent, and not
trespass upon your valuable time, to determine such controversies as these.

49
COLUMBA TABELLARIA MINIMA. The Dragoon.

156.—This Pigeon is absolutely and without dispute a bastard strain, being bred
originally from a Horseman to a Tumbler, and by matching their breed often to
e Horseman, they will obtain a tolerable degree of stoutness.

157.—This Pigeon is a very good breeder,(*) and as they are somewhat less than
& Horseman, are reckoned lighter, and more expeditious in their flight, for ten or

* 157.—Mayor, p. 89. And good nurses, and are chiefly kept as feeders for
Taising of Pouters, Leghorn Runts, &c-

Mayor, p. 92. The following may be depended upon as a fact, notwithstanding
the appearance of incredibility, as several gentlemen now living can affirm the
Same, if requisite—a gentleman of my acquaintance having a small wager depending,
Sent a Dragon by the Stage Coach to his friend at St. Edmond’s Bury, together
With a note, desiring the Pigeon, two days after his arrival there, might be thrown
up precisely when the town clock struck nine, in the morning, which was
accordingly executed ; and the Pigeon arrived in London, and flew to the sign

of the Bull’s Head Inn in Bishopsgste Street, into the loft, and was there shewn _
at half an hour past eleven o’clock the same morning on which he had been \
thrown up at St. Edmond’s Bury, having flown seventy-two miles in two hours /

anda half. The wager was confirmed by a letter sent by the next post from
4 person at St. Edmond’s Bury. I could relate several more exploits of this
hature performed by Dragons, particularly of their being thrown up and returning
by moon-light, &c., but the above may be thought sufficient.

I did not exactly agree with. Moorz on the last subject—the Horseman—but
I am determined to agree with him on the Dragon, believing what he states to
be correct.

I believe there are many gentlemen living in the country, and not associating with
Fanciers, who keep Pigeons, that fancy they have the finest strain of Carriers in
the World; if flown, no doubt very clean, their feathers close and tight, the
colours silver, yellow, or blue, with the black bar across the flight ; I acknowledge
all looking very beautiful as touching Dragons, Should it so happen that this
fhe old English gentleman, one of the olden times, gave an invite to one of his
Old friends, to come and spend a few days with him in the country, (but fortunately,
°r unfortunately, he is a good Carrier Fancier), after hearing this fine old
English gentleman (in his way) describing the perfections or imperfections of
the Carriers, as he pleased to call them, for want of knowing better. I ask
You, as wise men, would it not be cruel if this Carrier Fancier, on a visit or
Spunging excursion, should endeavour to lighten the darkness of this fine old
English gentleman, one of the very olden times ; for instance, in the first place
it would be too late in his day to make a good Carrier Fancier of him, and in the
Second place, it is possible there was no one in the locality to instruct him ; it
therefore appears to me, taking all the circumstances into consideration, to let
this fine old English gentleman enjoy his own opinion.

My brother Cockneys—I have a bone to pick with you before I am done with
the Dragoon, as Authors are pleased to spell it. I look upon Cockneys as the

G

eH RIE

50

twenty miles, but the Horseman if good, will generally out-do them at a greater
length ; they ought to be flown and trained like the foregoing,

COLUMBA GUTTUROSA BATAVIA.
The Dutch Cropper.

158.—This Pigeon seems to be originally Dutch, being naturally thick, and its
name is derived from a large bag, or crop of wind, which they carry under their beak,
and can at pleasure either raise or depress; they are thick bodied and short, their
legs are likewise thick, short, and feathered down to their feet ; their crop is large
but always hang low, the feathers on their thighs hang loose, whereby they are
said to be flag-thighed, their legs stand wide and they seldom play upright, they
are gravel-eyed, and generally very bad feeders, therefore as soon as they have
fed off their soft meat it is proper to put their young ones under a pair of small

Runts, Dragoons, or Powting-horsemen, which may be kept as nurses for that
purpose.

159.—There are of all sorts of feathers in this pigeon, and the Dutch in breed-
ing it take a very great care; for as soon as they have fed off their soft meat, they
put their young ones under others to nurse, and then separate the old ones,
placing them in different coops, and feeding them high with hemp or rape seed for
a month, then turning them together; and by being very hearty and salacious,
they breed pigeons with very good properties; from whence we may observe, that

would mankind be alike abstemious, their progeny might be more compleat both
in body and mind.

160.—These are the Pigeons that are most apt to gorge, if not kept constantly
supplied with meat and water.

COLUMBA GUTTUROSA ANGLICANA.
The English Powter.

161.—This Pigeon, which was first bred in England, and is therefore called the
English Powter, is originally a mixed breed between a Horseman and a Cropper,

most cunning birds that fly—they appear to me to be hydrids; do not mistake
me, I do not mean between a ‘ Bull and a Jack-ass,” but bred in from shire
to shire. As you have some pretence to education, be pleased to answer me the
question I am about to put to you, I accuse you of nothing, Why do the Authors
on Pigeons spell the Dragon with two oo, making the word Dragoon, a kind of
soldier that serves indifferently either on foot or on horseback? ‘* Walker.” In
society we never call it the Dragoon, but the Dragon—Drag-un, a win ged serpent,
*‘ Walker,” from which it derives its name, and while I am on this point, and,
as I told you before, I wish to accuse you of nothing, answer me this question,
How it comes to pass that Authors have thought fit to spell the Pouter thus—
Powter ? The name is derived form the word, to pout, by thrusting out. “* Walker”
The march of intellect being on the wing, I hope that not any Author who after
follows me, will be guilty of doing that which I complain of; it may be excusable
of me in bringing forward Moorr’s Work, as I am desirous it should be published
letter for letter.

158.—Mayor, p. 92. But now the Gentlemen Fanciers in England, pay very
little regard to this Pigeon, since they have made it subservient to their purpose,
viz. by raising from them and others, the Pouter.

51

and by matening their young ones over and over to the Cropper, experience
teaches us, it will add a wonderful beauty to this bird, and raise in it the five fol-
Owing properties.

1. Length of Body.

2, Length of Legs.

3. Neatness of Crop.

4. Slendernes of Girt.

5. Beauty in Feather.

162.—1. As to the length of body, the longer they are from the Apex of the

beak, to the end of the tail, the more the Pigeon is esteemed: I have seen one \
that measured this way near twenty inches, though seventeen or eighteen is My

teckoned a very good length. (#)

, 163.—2. The length of the leg, is the next thing to be examined in a Powter,
‘.é. from the upper joint of the thigh(+) in sight, to the end of the toe nail; (f) and in

= 162.—Mayor, p- 94, : It should have a hollow back, running off taper from
the shoulders, to form a fine shape, (for if it rises on the back it is called hog'-
backed), and it should be small in the girt. Great caution should be observed in
Measuring their length of body, lest the head and tail should be pulled off, which
(if I am rightly informed) was once the case, and thereby a fine bird sacrificed.

+163. Mayor (p. 94.) states with regard to length of leg, and in this property
Some of them wanting a mere trifle of seven inches and a quarter. ;

en Jes

} 163.—It requires truth and honesty in measuring, besides being rather difficult,
I have heard some of the best Pouter Fanciers say, it requires two to measure,
Provided it requires to be accurately done, and is to be done in the following way;
let one hold the leg out as straight as possible, then place the blade of a pen-knife,
tooth-pick, or small wedge in the upper joint of the thigh, the other taking the
length from whatever may be placed in the joint, letting the rule touch and
Continuing it to the end of the longest toe-nail, it does not appear to me to be
altogether fair, having no limits to the length of toe-nail; for if two gentlemen
showed two birds for length of leg, and, fairly speaking, the length of leg was equal ;
yet if one in the toe-nail ran out a quarter, or half an inch more than the other ;
nevertheless, as the standard laid down, it counts as length of leg, although the
bird would not stand any higher for it. The Pouter Fanciers may reason and say,
it has as much right to count as the running out or length of beak in the Horseman
°r Carrier. I acknowledge this to be fair argument, and leave it to the Pouter and
Carrier Fanciers to decide. I think it right in this place to inform you, that I
Measure only to the end of the quick, and all that is over and above consider horn =
the same remarks is applicable to the short-faced Tumblers. Mr. Moore, in the
Preceding Paragraph 162, as touching length of body, states, in his day, that he had
Seen one nearly twenty inches, and in Paragraph 163, wanting a mere trifle of
Seven _inches; and Mayor, p. 94, states the leg seven inches and a@ quarter, it
therefore appears the leg is full one-third of the length of the whole body of the
bird ; now, for instance, if it was possible to breed a bird so long in body as twenty
three inches 3; the leg, in the same proportion, would be eight inches. Answer me
this question, Would this Pouter be able to play with a fine tail, well spread like a
fan, without scraping the ground therewith, otherwise it would he awkwardness,
instead of grace and elegance,

Zn

52

, Fi this’ property some pigeons have been very considerable, wanting a mere trifle of

/ seven inches, yet the bird that produces six and a half or three quarters must be
_ allowed to be a very good one. (*)

164.—3. The next property to be considered is the crop, which ought to be large
and round especially towards the beak, filling behind the neck, so as to cover the
shoulders and tie neatly off at the shoulders, and form a perfect globe.

165.—4. The smaller the girt the better, because by this means a contrast of
beautiful shape is given to the whole bird.

166.—5. The last thing that is generally allowed as a property in a Powter is
the Feather, (+) and indeed its plumage affords a very great variety.

167.—The Pieds are most universally esteemed, and under these may be
ranked, the Blue-pied,(}) the Black-pied, the Red-pied and the Yellow-pied. Each
of which advance in their worth according as they answer best the foregoing pro-
perties; for instance, if the Blue-pied and Black-pied are equal in the measure of
the other properties: the Black-pied will be reckoned the best Pigeon, on the
account of the feather, and the Yellow-pied if equal, better than any.

168.—Before we leave this head of feathers, we must take notice how a Powter
\ ought to be pied: and in the first place, the chop ought to be white, girt round
|| with a shining green, intermixed with the colour with which he is pied. By the

*163. Mayor, p. 95. Their thighs and legs should be stout and thick, and well
covered with smooth white feathers, and not thin wire legs and naked, as formerly.

165.—I cannot but help thinking that the Gentlemen of the Pouter Fancy
have lost ground, as touching the girt of the Pouter ; I am ready to acknowledge
they have bred, if I may use the term, some tremendous large birds, but
unfortunately they have bred them to weigh too much, which is the property
of the Leghorn and Spanish Runt. A Pouter ought, in hand, to handle like a
Tumbler, not requiring both hands, or as the old Fanciers call it, draw it through
the ring of your fingers, comparatively speaking. It appears to me breeding for
large birds, instead of symmetry, shape, styleand elegance. Again, I am fearful that
some have run from one extreme to the other; formerly the legs of the Pouter
were thin, wiry, and featherless ; but I have seen some whose legs were so stout
that they reminded me of mill-posts, and the feathers on the legs rushed out to
such an enormous extent, (instead of appearing like down, snow, or being iced),
which balks the bird if it attempts to play, not having the freedom of its legs
which it otherwise would, bringing to your recollections some of the old fashioned
feather-legged Bantams. I would almost as soon have them somewhat thin leg,
and almost naked, as to have their legs more like mill-posts—rushed and sprouted,
almost preventing the bird walking. However, there is no accounting for taste,
when the breeder says he greatly admires it, the smallness of girt gives such
smartness to the bird.

+ 166.—As regards feather, it will be ‘ Hobson’s choice” with you, as it is with
every other Fancier. 1 am fully sensible, as you are, how much it contributes to
the admiration of the bird when beauifully feathered, as laid down by Moors, and
what a difference there is in a bird only wanting the bib, for then he is called
swallow-throated.

t 167.--Maror, p. 95. The Blue Pied Pouter should be the best sky blue. Or,
Powder Blue, as it is termed by the Gentlemen in the Fancy.—J. M, Eaton.

chop, is meant, the front part of the crop, and this white ought by no means to go
behind the neck, for then it is said to be ring-headed.

169.—2. He ought to have a bib or round patch, of the same colour with which
he is pied, coming down from his under chop, and filing upon the chap, which
makes it the shape of,a half-moon; but if this bib be wanting he is said to be
Swallow-throated. 1

170.3. His head, neck, and back ought to be of one uniform colour, and the
tail the same,(*) and if the Pigeon be Blue-pied he ought to have two bars or
streaks of black across the lower part of both wings; but if these happen to be of
a brown colour, he is said to be kite barred, which is not so valuable.

171.—4. The shoulder or pinion of the wing ought to be mottled with white,
lyingjround in the shape-of a rose; this is called a rose-pinion, and is reckoned
the best, though but very few arise to be compleat in this property ; but if the
pinion runs with a large patch of white to the outer edge of the wing, he is said to
be lawn-sleeved. (+)

172.—5. His thighs ought to be clean white, though sometimes the joints of
the knees will be edged round with another colour, but let it fall here, or on any
other part of the thigh, he is foul thighed. ({)

173,—6. ‘The nine flight feathers of the wing ought to be white, otherwise he
is said to be foul flighted, and if only the external feather of the wing be of the’
colour of the body, it is called sword flighted or sworded. (§)

- * 170.—His head, neck, back, and tail ought to be one uniform colour. Mayor
and Girtin has the same words as Moore; neither of the three mention—with
the exception of the Yellow and the Red-pieds, then their tails should be white.
It was an oversight, no doubt, and perplexed many a young Fancier, as it did me
afew years ago. Looking at Pouters one night with tails, same as head, neck, and
back; and another time, at yellows and reds, with white tails: Time and
experience improved my eye, and matured my judgment. :
+171,—Grretin, p. 50. The reader is desired to take notice that lawn-sleeved,
kite-barred, &c. and such like terms which frequently occur in describing these
birds, are fancy terms, and made use of by Gentlemen of the Fancy only.
+ 172.—GurrtTIN, p. 51. Their legs covered with white, soft downy feathers.
§ 173.--I know a Gentleman in the Fancy, one of the best tempered men I ever
knew, and it would take a great deal to put his pipe out; if in society, and
speaking of the properties of the English Pouter as they ought to be--first, length
of body—second, length of legs—third, neatness of crop—fourth, slenderness
of girt—fifth and last, beauty in feather. If he heard a party finding fault with
an English Pouter, or Pouters, possessing the four first properties in an eminent
degree ; it was more than flesh and blood could stand, and the only thing I ever
saw that ruffled his temper; he enjoyed his opinion of the man, for I cannot
call him a Fancier. Feather will be the last property you will have to bother
yourself with, considering what you have to encounter with in the first four
properties. ‘There are people in the World that say ‘a good horse cannot be a
bad colour,” and equally applies to the English Pouter; for instance, if it
was possible for you, at your next Show, to take a bird as I have been describing,
possessing the four first properties out of the five in an eminent degree, and
although the most despicable colour in the feather, (mealy) you might inform

54

174.—Besides the five properties before mentioned, there is another, which
though not generally allowed, will be found to be one of the best, I mean the
carriage ; under which I comprise the following heads,

175.—1. The crop ought to be so far filled with wind, as to shew its full
extent, without bufling or being slack-winded, which are both esteemed very great
faults ? The Pigeon that bufles, fills his crop so full of wind, that it is thereby
strained, in such a manner, that he is ready to fall backwards, because he can’t
readily discharge the confined air, which renders him uneasy and unwieldly, and
many a good thing has, by this means, either fallen into the street, or become a
prey to those fatal enemies of the Fancy, the cats. The other extreme is bein
slack-winded, so that he shows little or no crop, and appears not much better than
an ill-shaped runt.

176,—2. The second beauty in carriage, is their playing upright, with a fine
tail, well spread like a fan, without scraping the ground therewith, or tucking it
between their legs; neither should they set up the feathers on their rump when
they play, which is called rumping.

177.—3. The last beauty of carriage in a Powter is to stand close with his legs,
without straddling, and keep the shoulders of his wing tight down to his body, and
when he moves, to trip beautifully with his feet, almost upon his toes, without
jumping, which is the quality of an Uploper.

178.—A Powter that would answer to all these properties, might be said to be
perfect, but as absolute perfection is incompatible with anything in this world, that
Pigeon that makes the nearest advances towards them, is certainly the best.

179.—Some have answered them so well, that I have known eight guineas
refused for a single pigeon of this breed.

me how much handsomer it would have been if it had been a yellow-pied. You
may keep your information to yourself, for I already know it; produce and show
the mealy bird I have described, and you will find that you are offered many
guineas for it.

Mayor, p. 63. The above, and many other inconveniences too tedious to
mention attending the Pouter, and no trouble at all (comparatively speaking)

attending the other, easily accounts for the preference given to the Almond
‘Tumbler.

Mayor, p. 97. When Pouters are designed to be shewn, they should be
previously prepared for that purpose, by keeping them from food five or six hours
before the time of shewing them, otherwise they cannot so conveniently swell or
get their crop up properly, to appear to advantage; and particular care must
be afterwards taken to prevent the dangerous and disagreeable inconvenience
of gorging themselves, for at that time they are most apt to do it, from having
been kept so long empty.

Mayor, p.97. These Pigeons appear very noble on the outside of a house,
but the better sort are never suffered to fly.

Mayor, p. 97. There are many who have not judgment sufficient to discover
the beauties and properties of the Pouter, that condemn it on account of the crop,
which they say seems an incumbrance to the bird, and appears unnatural,

Mayor, p- 100. The Fanciers of these birds, by dint of application, indefatigable
industry, and great expense, have certainly bred them to a great degree towards
perfection, insomuch that eighteen pairs and a half of them were sold by public

55

auction for ninety-two pounds, niné shilllings and sixpence, as appears by 2

paragraph in the Daily Advertiser of Thursday, January Ist, and the day following

in the Gazetteer, and London Daily Advertiser of Friday, January 2nd, 1761,
which for the greater satisfaction of the reader, I shall here transcribe. On
Monday evening last, at the sale of Pouting Pigeons, at Mr. Hay’s, The French
Horn, in Beach Lane, consisting of eighteen pairs and a half of Pigeons; they
were sold as follows :

£ 8. ad.

Mayor, p. 101, Lot 1. One pair cece, 2 12
sce Dp SURG ips senna tesyar. paivcsas 2.9

9p Be Ditt0 crcceeeceeseeseseeeeees tse 8

Te ge | eae re Oe re 117

dg Sei FS ee 212

nde Go cDIELO. cass snecscte cing even Pons ae?)

Tes. AAD EO deumious pases xwiee an’ 3.13

DithOsi.ssscecarvaeteoatieaeey
WittOieaiscsenvesvesancurcin te, “=
iRth ID IkihOr yk oe ee eee ee
TclertasDithOigsdashin anes sav psputndena cu eho

5

4

8

99 1D.. DittOrce-cccescnssereracoeees 2
ee Se br eee er ee ]
99 14. DittOsecsccrersencoereesenres 0
ade =O econo ft
Ee ee Oe | EE
Pie Ua kiN rere eric se ee)

yo: 18... Aceon onlycreseneraesee no a
92 19. One pair serrerrerrecveree 1 8

—
cy
coco oe ooo Oo oOo Be oO Ato Co Oe

ies Total scvccccorrne.e. £92 9 6

Mayor, p. 102. He says, “ As I was present at the above sale, so I had an
opportunity of examining the birds, some of which were very indifferent ones,
and some of them very capital ones indeed-—lots 14, 15, 16, and 18; to my
knowledge, two pairs of which were afterwards sold for thirty-six Guineas, by
private contract.

Mayor, in continuation, the Almond Tumblers (at the time these Pigeons
Were sold) were not arrived at one half of the perfection that they are at this
time, and it is the opinion of many, that were the same number of Almond
Tumblers to be sold now, they would bear a price equal, if not superior, to
the above.

Mayor, p. 59. The Pouter is introduced in Mayor’s Work among the Almond
Tumbler ; ; as he says, “ purposely to shew the difference of trouble, time, and
inconvenience, between breeding them and the Almond Tumblers.” The Pouter
Was formerly much valued, as well as the Carrier, and seemed at one time to
engross the principal part of the Fanciers; but of late, numbers who were very
Staunch in the Pouter Fancy, have, with myself, relinquished that, and become

56
fond of the Almond Tumbler; and I make no doubt but many more will soon
be tired, and follow my example; for when we consider the trouble that attends
the breeding and raising of young Pouters, (exclusive of the extra expense),
compared with that of the Almond Tumbler, it is not in the least to be wondered
at, for the Powter requires an infinite deal of attention, it being necessary to
keep them separately all the winter season ; that is to say, every single bird,
cocks as well as hens, in a separate pen or coop, each of which must be furnished
with meat and water, and should he lofty and spacious, as, otherwise, they would
contract an habit of stooping, which is an imperfection, and should by all means
be prevented. Then having (in the spring) matched or paired them, you must
be provided with at least two pairs of Dragons, to every pair of Pouters, for
nurses or feeders, which must be kept in a separate loft from the Pouters,
otherwise they would bastardize, and spoil the breed. Pouters are never suffered,
by those who are curious, to hatch their own eggs, they being bad feeders, and
would often starve their young ones. When the Pouter has laid her egg, it must
be shifted under a Dragon, that has likewise laid, nearly about the same time,
and that of the Dragon be placed under the Pouter, exchanging the one with
the other, it being necessary the Pouter should have an egg, or eggs, to sit on,
to prevent her laying again too soon, which would weaken, and in a short time
kill her; likewise, the inconveniency attending them when gorged, by putting
them in a stocking, as mentioned under the head of distempers (first by Mr.
Moore—see Paragraph 84, 85.) Again, should a Fancier begin with half a dozen’
pair of Pouters, he would, in a short time, be under a necessity of purchasing
more, or exchange (perhaps his best birds) for worse, in order to cross the strain,
for should he (as the term is) breed them in and in, which is matching father
and daughter, or brother and sister, or any other way incestuously together,
the breed would degenerate, and not be worth sixpence; whereas, the same

number of Almond Tumblers would inevitably stock him for life, for the breeding |

|

of Tumblers in and in, would consequently breed them smaller, which is a perfection

in them, and they require no attendance while breeding, provided you supply
them with meat and water, and throw them a little straw, and do not (like the
Pouter) require time to be lavished upon them to make them familiar. Experience
teaches us that were Tumblers to be kept in separate pens, as the Pouters are,
they would show in the same manner, and be equally as familiar as the Pouter,
for the Pouter should be almost constantly attended and talked to, during the
Winter season, in a phrase peculiar to that Fancy, viz.—hua! hua! stroking them
down the back, and clacking to them as to chickens, otherwise they would lose
their familiarity, which is one of their greatest beauties, and is termed shewing,
and would make the finest of them appear despicable, which made a facetious
gentleman of my acquaintance say, ‘‘ that Pouters were a fancy more particularly
adapted to Weavers, Cobblers, and the like kind of trades only, that worked in the
same room where they were kept, that the owners might have an opportunity
of conversing with them, at the same time they were earning their subsistence.”
Though I must allow of the propriety of the above observation, I cannot help
thinking it rather severe than otherwise, for certainly every gentlemen has
an undoubted right to please himself with the fancy he most delights in.

a

57

COLUMBA GUTTUROSA LUTETIA ve. PARISIORUM.
. The Parisian Powter.

_ 180.—This Pigeon was originally bred at Paris (*) and from thence brought to
russels, whence it was transmitted to us; it has all the nature of a Powter, but is

179,—-GirTIN, p. 52. The Pouter that approaches nearest all these properties is
avery valuable bird, and some Fanciers, by a patient perseverarice and great
®xpence, have bred these birds so near the standard prescribed as to sell them for
twenty guineas a pair.
With regard to the Portrait of the English Pouter that will accompany this
Work, I have not seen, being in the hands of my brother Fancier, Mr. Dean
WotsrennorMn, the Animal Artist and Engraver. Iam not aware that I could
have employed any one so competent, he being a first-rate Fancier, and having
Biven universal satisfaction as regards the Portrait of my Almond Tumbler. Should

it be a little overdrawn, which I sincerely hope it will, accuse me and not him,

Owing to my desire to give you a good copy to breed up to; not so much like
the Enctish Pouter of the present day, but what it ought to be; and this idea
brings to mind néar fifty years ago, of a short argument I had with a very one-sided
arguer, although very powerful, extremely forcible, and drove his arguments
home. Ii happened on this wise, after having got through my pot-hooks and
hangers, and on a little farther, my old and much respected schoolmaster called
me to his study, presented me with a set of engraved copies, instructed me how
to write them into my writing book ; as well executed as they were, it nearly
broke my poor little heart, I was quite willing to do it, but seeing the impossibility,
a lucky thought struck me, and being a quick boy, and grateful for the pains
he had taken with me, causing me to be so bright in so short a time. In my
innocence, I asked him if he could write like it himself; although he had a study,
I question very-much whether he ever studied Blackstone or Coke, for he took
the law into his own hands, which is contrary to law, and gave me a round
dozen. I never particularly afterwards argued the cause with him, having once
felt that he had the strength of the law on his side. I never brought an action
against him, for taking the law into his own hands. I may have gained something
from this, and it was that which caused me to write such a beautiful hand.
To return to the Pouter that will accompany this Work, which I stated I hoped
Would be over drawn, by: way of a copy for you to breed up to, I have thought
fit, in colour, to choose the blue-pied, as shewing off the greatest variety of feather.
Read from Paragraph 168, to Paragraph 175. J cannot help thinking that if
four pied English Pouters was placed before me, and all of equal properties—
the blue-pied, the black-pied, the red-pied, and the yellow-pied—and I was
allowed to make choice of one of these Pouters, provided the blue pied was
@ light bright sky, or powder blue, like some of the owl Pigeons, with beautiful

’ bars across the wings, &c., but what I should choose the blue-pied, owing

‘to the variety of feather in the blue-pied, and its beautiful black bars across
the flight, which I am so great an admirer of, although I am fully sensible
that the black-pied, red-pied, and yellow-pied, rank before it.
*180.—Mayer p. 103. This bird is vulgarly called the Parazence Pouter.
H

Bes i
ees

58

generally long cropped and not very large, it is short bodied, short legged and

thick in the girt; what is chiefly admired in this bird, is its feather, which is in- |
deed very beautiful and peculiar only to itself, resembling a fine piece of Irish |
stitch, being chequered with various colours in every feather, except the flight _
which is white; the more red it has intermixed with the other colours, the more

valuable it is: Some are gravel-eyed, and some bull-eyed, but it is equally indif- |
ferent which eye it has.

COLUMBA GUTTUROSA SALIENS. The Uploper.

181.—The Uploper is a Pigeon bred originally in Holland, its make and shape
agrees.in every respect with the English Powter, only it is smaller in every pro-
perty. Its crop is very round, in which it generally buries its bill; its legs are
very small and slender, and its toes are short and close together, on which it treads
so nicely, that when moving, you may put anything under the ball of its foot ; it is
close thighed, plays very upright, and when it approaches the hen, generally leaps
to her, with its tail spread, which is the reason the name is given to it, from the
Dutch word Uplopen, which signifies to leap up. These pigeons are generally all
blue, white, or black, though I will not assert that there are no pieds of this
speices. There are but very few of them in England, and I have been informed
that in Holland they have asked five and twenty guineas for a single pair of them.*

COLUMBA TABELLARIA GUTTUROSA.
The Powting Horseman.

182.—This Pigeon is a bastard strain between the Croppét and the Horseman,
and according to the number of times that their young ones are bred over from the
Cropper, they are called first, second or third bred; and the oftener they are bred
over, the larger their crop proves. The reason of breeding these Pigeons is to
improve the strain of the Powters, by making them close thighed, though it is apt
to make them rump, from the Horseman’s blood. (f) They are a very merry Pigeon
upon a house, and by often dashing off are good to pitch stray Pigeons, that are at
loss to find their own home; ({) they breed often and are good nurses, generally
feeding their young ones well. I have known these Pigeons to be six inches and
six and a half in legs; they are a hearty Pigeon and, give them but meat and

water, need very little other attendance. Some of them will home ten or twenty
miles. (§)

* 181—Mayor, p. 105. The reason that they do not encourage the breed of |
them here, I should imagine is, having brought the English Pouter to such
perfection, that, in fact, at this time, there is no comparison to be made between
them; though it has been reported, that in Holland they have asked twenty-five
guineas for a single pair of Uplopers, which I must confess I want faith to credit.

+ 182.—Mayor, p. 106. But having now brought the strain of the Pouters to
so high perfection, that practice is disused.

+ Mayor, p. 106. Which gives great satisfaction to those gentlemen who delight
in the Flying Fancy.

§ There cannot, I think, be a doubt among Fanciers that the Pouting Horsemat
is a hybrid, between the Cropper and the Horseman, coming nearer in appearanc?é
to an English Pouter in miniature, than a Horseman does to a Carrier in miniaturah
as I observed in a former part of this work. At the sale of Bantams Pigeons (|

belonging to the late celebrated and spirited Fancier, Sir Joun Sxpricut, I wa? '

i. “Eee oe ere oe ee

59

astonished to see the English Pouters in miniature, possessing the five properties

of the English Pouter, viz. Ist.—Length and shape of body ; 2nd.—Length of legs ;
3rd.—Crop ; 4th.—Feather; 5th.—Shape or carriage. It is the sagacity of the
Horseman that enables it to find its way home, twenty miles or upwards, which
proves they are good flyers, provided they are light in body and small in girt, (to

use the old Fanciers’ term, of passing them through the ring of your finger,

Comparatively speaking). I have seen some of these light-bodied Pouting Horse-
Man, that appeared to me to fly as light as Tumblers, and when flying with the
Tumblers, their round globular crops, well filled and up, has a very pleasing effect,
Owing to the contrast of the Tumblers. With regard to dashing off, they are not
Only a merry, but a spirited Pigeon, and not only spirited but graceful in the
extreme; I would rather see an elegant shape, small or narrow girt Pouting
Horseman, six and a half inches in the leg, (think of this, Gentlemen of the
Pouting Fancy !) than an English Pouter, even if it would measure seven anda
halfinches. A large English Pouter, with thick girt and hog-backed. Style is a
grand thing, and the Pouting Horseman is the English Pouter, retaining all its
Properties.

The large and noble English Pouter is like unto the large and fine old English
gentleman, one of the olden times; the large fine English Pouter shews only
by instinct, not determined by reason or deliberation, while the fine large English
gentleman propelled by deliberation or reason to do his duty; for instance, if
the late Iron Duke of Wellington opened a Ball, with our most gracious Sovereign
in the Minuet de la Cour, or the Gavotte de Vestris, and knowing whatever was
done ought to be done well, therefore, if dancing, it ought to be done well. As
& man of the World, he knew the common dancers at the Opera-house could
cut six, he was fully sensible that having the honour to dance with our Sovereign
Lady, the Queen, he had to shew off, and cut sixteen, like the Tumbler Pigeon
in tumbling, without losing ground or time, although between eighty and ninety
years of age, almost too much for flesh and blood to contemplate; but he was >
such a man for duty, either towards his Sovereign‘or her subjects. I cannot help
thinking there is a bearing or affinity not unlike in the fine large English Pouter,
&specially the cocks, and the fine large English gentleman, that their size and
Weight is an incumbrance to them both alike, in shewing their agility. I am
aware of the epidemic that fine large English gentleman laboured under, of having
Constitutions that will bear a great deal of ease, which reminds me of some
of the greatest vocalists we ever had, who show off on the stage more like
elephants than actors. It is very different with the actresses, they show off,
Appearing to take great delight in showing off, and would appear to me that
Some of them had taken private lessons from the elegant formed and graceful
English Pouter hen. You must make allowance for fashion, for, at this time,
it is straight down from top to bottem alike, or as much shape as there is in
& sack of saw-dust. ‘They very much resemble each other in another point,
being matched up too soon, consequently spoiled. You may ask me whether we
have not had some fine English gentlemen, who have shown off, to which I

~ answer, Yes; but have only had, one Nelson, one Peel, and one Wellington,

60

who have shown off to the utmost, to an admiring and grateful Nation. These
are the exceptions to the rule, and not the rule, the same is equally applicable
to the large English Pouters. How often does it happen at a grand show of
these remarkable fine large English Pouters, that after having been previously
prepared for showing, that is separating each cock and hen, and not allowing
them to see a Pigeon, and show well in their own pens; but when put into the
show-pen a male bird, expecting he will show, it stretches out its head and neck,
apparently taking a sight of all the Fanciers in the room, and almost as much
as to say to some of them—you owe me something; some of them may show to
a certain extent, but not to the extent the Fanciers could have desired. To a
certain extent, I think these fine large male English Pouters labour under the
same epidemic that the fine large English gentlemen does, viz.—that their size
and weight is an incumbrance to them, and the cause producing the effect alike
in the large gentleman or the large Pigeon—that of a constitution that will bear
much ease, I said it was very different with the females showing off; at this
part you might be desirous of putting a question to me, I will answer twenty
if I consider them fair questions. Then do you consider the females more
audacious and wicked than the males? I tell you I do not consider this a fair
question, and beg leave most respectfully to decline answering it, at the same
time you can draw your inference, recollecting that you have no right to
assume anything. 4

It is very disheartening to the Gentlemen Fanciers of the English Pouter when
this takes place, after forwarding their birds often some miles, &c. to give their
brother Fanciers a treat, as it was supposed ; but it does not always turn out to be
s0, owing to their not shewing, as it is called; nevertheless, it often proves a
treat, to see what length of body and shape they have, length in leg, and beautiful
in feather. It is otherwise with the light (not heavy) merry-splrited Pouting
Horseman cock, when put into the show pen, always up and ready for his work,
not long in stripping himself, putting himself in beautiful attitude, and suiting the
action to the word display that fine action of showing which is so well understood
by the Gentlemen of the Fancy ; giving infinite satisfaction, with regard to their
being a merry Pigeon upon the top of a house, and by often dashing off, are good
to pitch stray Pigeons that are at loss to find their home. Allow me here, by way
of bringing it to a close, to mention, that when I was a very little boy, and as I
suppose a good little boy, (as is the custom to interpret favourably of children ; for
it is only when we are children of a larger growth that we kick over the traces,)
fifty years ago, and scarcely could walk, I had that propensity for birds, that
whenever I had a halfpenny given me, I would go on all-fours up the stairs to one
Jemmy Gillham, a bird-catcher, who lived next floor to the skies, and lay out my
all with this merchant bird-catcher—that amounted to a halfpenny, for which I
obtained a bird ; how I got down with a bird in hand at this time perplexes me, for
I can recollect I went up on all-fours, as I said before, to the next floor to the skies
—never recollect. falling down, but recollect when down, and coming into the
light, the bird, I suppose some hard-billed bird—hen sparrow, green bird, or
chaffinch—gave me a severe peck, I let it go and then had a good roar; this Jemmy

61

Gillham, although only a bird-catcher, had his heart in the right place. He knew
me and my parents, for he did not live far from us—brought me another bird and
told me to hold it tight; I took his advice, being determined it should not get its
head round to peck me, I was no better off with regard to having a singing bird
when I got it home, than with the bird that pecked me and flew away; for in
following his advice, in holding it tight, I choaked it! My kind and affectionate
Mother seeing the trouble I was in, besides being bankrupt, (like all other mothers,
hangs to boys, while the fathers stick to the girls—Very natural!) sent the
servant with a cage and obtained a bird for me; my broken heart began to mend,
for I was astonished to hear how plain it could say or speak, Pink! Pink! Pink!
I was acquainted with him up tothe time of his death, which was between forty
and fifty years; He was a worthy old man, and there was not a vice in him,
although a humble bird-catcher. There was a highly respectable Bird and Pigeon
Dealer, of the name of Nathaniel Preston, corner of Featherstone Street, City
Road—it was proverbial of him that he would use a child or boy as well as the most
experienced Fancier—who would at times favor this bird-catcher, who had a very
pretty flight of Black Beards, &c., and say, “ Jemmy, try this Squeeker, for I
entertain a high opinion of it.”” Amongst them was a blue-pied Pouting Horseman
cock, one of the most splendid birds that ever I saw, that was as good as a little
fortune to him, and fly equal to any of his Tumblers, at the season of the year when
bird-catching was bad. He would sell off all his Pigeons except this blue Pouting
Horseman cock and a black-bearded cock, (his other black-beards he sold knew a
thing or two, he used to say they would do forty miles), was as good as a little-
fortune to him, for he would generally look two or three times a day to see what
stray hens the cocks had brought in, and thought it a bad day’s work if they did
not bring in one a piece; for as soon as he perceived a strange one, he took it
away, and sold it, and turned them out to look for others. I never witnessed such
a flying Pouting Horseman as this, it flew more like a hawk than a Pigeon, besides
being such a bird for dashing off. It was unfortunately shot by a publican, who
had been a gamekeeper, and I believe was the cause of nearly ruining the poor old
bird-catcher.

Ihave, this week, bought two pretty little blue Pouting Horseman cocks, Iam
informed they come from Norwich. I am given to understand they fly tremendously
with very large crops. I am only surprised that such little birds should have such
large crops. I have not bought them with the idea of stray catching; having so
many feeders, I should not know a stray Pigeon in the loft, unless a marked, or
superior Pigeon, my lofts being always open they can come in and go outas they
like. I have matched these two little Pouting Horseman cocks to two of my best

‘ high-flying Tumbler hens, for the purpose of taking them up into the elements, for
I think they look very well in flight with the tumblers; I care nothing about their
young, and if they do not fly well, when let out, they will make room for others
that will.

The Gentlemen Fanciers of the English Pouter, may assume that I admire the
smaller Pouting Horseman, to the larger English Pouter. 1 warned you in a
former part of this Work, not to assume anything, for the contrary is the fact 5

62
COLUMBA REVOLVENS. The Tumbler.

_ 183.—This bird is so called, from an innate faculty peculiar to this species, which
is their tumbling in the air, and which they effect by throwing themselves over
backward, after the same manner that the most expert artists in tumbling perform
what they call the back-spring. (*)

I never have, and never shall advise the young and inexperienced Fancier to
attempt to breed a second-rate bird, while he has the opportunity to breed a
first-rate bird, therefore, I shall not advise him to breed the Pouting Horseman,
while he has the opportunity to attempt to breed the English Pouter, any more
than I shall advise him to breed a Skinum, Dragon, or Horseman, while he has
the opportunity to attempt to breed a Carrier, for degeneracy will do that, in
spite of the efforts of the most experienced Fanciers; but I am desirous that
you should breed the English Pouter with more style and grace, with a hollow
back, smaller in the girt, stout legs, but not like mill-posts, soft downy or
snow-like feather legs, but not rushed and sprouted with feathers that almost
prevents the bird from walking. Not having seen the English Pouter that will
accompany this Work, although I entertain the highest opinion of my brother
Fancier, DEAN WoLsteNnOLME, the Painter and Engraver, as to the production ;
T shall, nevertheless, call your attention to it, believing it will be a copy for you
to breed up to, and surpass if possible.
“TJ deeply lament and deplore that there are not more Gentlemen in this noble,
dignified, graceful and majestic Fancy, for its elegance, style, and boldness of
figure, which so characterises the English Pouter, is well worthy of the utmost
attention that the most accomplished Fancier can give it, and will amply repay
him for all the toil, labour, time, trouble, and expense he has bestowed upon it.
183.—Mayor, p. 68. Many people are of opinion that the Almond Tumbler
will not perform this back spring, but I must beg leave to contradict this notion,
as a gentleman with whom I am very intimately acquainted, who flies his Almond
Tumblers in the country, has assured me they are full as expert in tumbling as
any Tumbler whatever.

# 183.—With regard to the Almond Tumbler’s tumbling, when I first was
about to enter the Fancy, and going among Fanciers to purchase Almond
Tumblers, one of the Fanciers said to me “See my Almond Tumblers tumble,
and go out of sight.” I thought, comparatively speaking, I was determined that 1
would not lose sight of them: they were let out and began tumbling in good style,
and mounted to that degree in the elements, that, in spite of all my watching them,
although only over my head, and a bright morning, they did go out of my sight.
_ [ watched them till, I think, they appeared to me not larger than flies, having by
' this time the crick in my neck by looking up so high and straight, for still I believe
they were over my head; at last they appeared in sight, came gradually down,
tumbling most splendidly, I must confess I was astonished, and would not believe
it, that of Tumblers going out of sight, straight over my head on a clear morning.
On a moment’s reflection, [ ought not to be so hard of belief, for most of us have
seen a balloon up, which is somewhat larger than a Pigeon, and we have watched

63

_ 184A Tumbler is a very small (*) Pigeon, short bodied, full breasted, thir
necked, spindle-beaked, (+) and a short button head, ({) and the irides of the
eyes ought to be of a bright pearl colour.

eee

that as carefully as we could, nevertheless, it has given us all the slip. I once
saw three up at the same time, they appeared to me like migratory birds; you
will not believe it strange when I inform you they appeared to be playing at
follow my leader, or one after another. I lost sight of them all, therefore it js
not strange that Pigeons should go out of sight, with regard to tumbling. I have
no doubt you have often witnessed the Tumbler’s back, but not go over. I have
often heard it said the cause is owing to the bird having a long tail, and the bird’s
head touching the tail, balks the bird in going over. To obviate this, some have
cut an inch off the tail, and it is said they have afterwards tumbled very well,
therefore, in reasoning, it would follow that the Almond Tumbler being so small,
snug, and compact a bird, being so short from the Leak to the end of the tail,
that if flown would tumble better than any other bird, for it is certain the shorter
and more chubby the Tumblers are the more they tumble; and, on the contrary,
the large-common run-out Tumblers like Skinum’s, seldom or ever tumble.

* 184,—A first-rate Tumbler, possessing the five properties, is, beyond all doubt,
the smallest Pigeon that the Fancier takes into consideration. The Chinese
Pigeon, of which you will read afterwards, very likely a Fancier never saw ; and if

he did, what would he make of it in the end. Mr. Moors, in Paragraph 212, |
writing of the Jacobine Pigeon, states, “ is, if true.” the smallest of all Pigeons. —

I have not any doubt but the Jack was a very pretty Pigeon in Moorn’s time,

One Hundred and Seventeen years ago; but it has, at the present time, very much

degenerated, or the incomparable Tumbler, possessing the five properties, very 3

much improved—it is certain, one or the other.

+ 184.—Mayor, p. 68. A “short”? spindle beak.

¢ 184.—If my memory is not traitor to me, I believe in reading over the text—
Mr. Joun Moorn’s Work, you will often fall in with the description of button head.
What a button was in Moorn’s day, | will not presume to say. Do as I am doing
now, put your finger upon the top of the button of the coat you have on, and then
answer me this question, ‘ Is this the shape of head you are desirous of obtaining
in the Tumbler,” fit to put a muffin or crumpet board upon, that you are rampant
mad or desirous of obtaining in the Tumbler. I think, decidedly not; at the same
time, willing to please you if possible, would you not rejoice to obtain the Carrier’s
head like unto it ; the head and beak are perfectly straight across as is the button,
Willing to please you if possible, now do again as I am doing, put your finger and
thumb around the button; now answer me this question, Is this the head that
you are desirous of obtaining for the Tumbler. ‘ There's a good time coming
Boys! there’s a good time coming! There’s a good time coming, Boys! only wait
a little longer!” It therefore follows, that thé button head is equally as applicable
to the Carrier as to the Tumbler; unless ia Mr. Moorn’s day, as in my day, when
I played at buttons, if you will only recollect or refresh your memory, when the
battle was lost or won as regards the game of buttons, a Roley Poley was

64

_ 185.—The Dutch Tumbler is much of the same make, but larger, often feathered
legged, and more jowlter-headed with a thin flesh or skin round the eye, not
unlike a very sheer dragoon; some people don’t esteem them on this account,
though I have known very good ones of the Dutch breed, not any ways inferior
to what they call the English. Others have remarked that they are apt to
tumble too much, and to lose ground, that is, sink beneath the rest of the flight,
which is a very great fault, but I have observed the same by the English, and am
apt to believe that most of the extraordinary feathers have been produced by
mixing with the Dutch breed; for it is generally observed that the English
Tumblers are chiefly black, blue, or white.

186.—This Pigeon affords a very great variety of colours in its plumage, as
blacks, blues, whites, reds, yellows, dvins, silvers, and, in short, a pleasant mixture
of all these colours with the white. But amongst all, there is a mixture of three
colours, vulgarly called an Almond, (*) perhaps from the quantity of almond
coloured feathers that are found in the hackle: others call it an ermine, I suppose
from the black spots that are generally in it; however I am sensible the name is
not compatible to the term so called in heraldry, which is only white spotted with
black; yet as the gentlemen of the Fancy have assigned this name to this motley
colour, I shan’t quarrel with them about a term: if the three colours run through
the feathers of the flight and tail, it is reckoned a very good almond, or ermine,
and is much valued.

occasionally brought out to balance the account: We looked upon it not as we do
‘ upon a stray Pigeon, but as bankers do upon light sovereigns, and insisted upon a
good discount. It is possible in Moorn’s day, for I was not there to witness, that
they wore these Roley Poley buttons, at all events it is a bad idea or word to
express a round-headed Pigeon; you had much better use the word—round, as a
marble or bonce, or bagatelle ball or globular, and I sincerely hope that however
many may follow me, that not any of you will make use of the word—Button head.
I consider it not applicable for what it was intended to convey. I have heard some
country Fanciers use the term to express the round-headed Tumbler, call them
Bullet-headed; nevertheless, I think this a bad name, for I have seen bullets a bad
shape, but consider them home made, the name I like best is, Globular.

* 186.—Mr. Moore presents the Gentlemen of the Pigeon Fancy with a very

“*. small account of the splendid Almond Tumbler ; however, the little he does say is to

the point, it may be that he was not an Almond Tumbler Fancier. I am of opinion
that the Almond Tumbler had not arrived to the excellence or standard that it
had acquired when Mayor wrote on the Almond Tumbler, exactly thirty years
after. I cannot help thinking, from the beautiful account given by Mayor,
compared to the account given by Moore; nevertheless, who, for all in all, as a
Fancier, I style or call the pre-eminent of Fanciers. There must have been great
spirit among the Gentlemen of the Almond Fancy during this thirty years. It has
| been stated that fifty or sixty years ago the Gentlemen of the Fancy had better
birds than they have at the present time, that the Almond Tumbler was a more
perfect bird than it is now. Ifthe question was put to me thus, What is your
opinion with regard to Tumblers, Carriers, or Pouters, whether there is anything
alive in the present day equal to what has been seen, taking into consideration
the many generations of Pigeon Fanciers who have shewn, but now gone to
their long homes? I should conscientiously answer, No! The Fancy, like

65

if 187.—N.B. An ermine Tumbler never comes to the full beauty of its feather, ) Z
till it has twice molted off, and when it grows very old will decline till it runs |
away to a down-right mottle or other colour. (*) /

Pee las,

everything else, ebbs and flows, and in some generations there are more ardent
and enthusiastic Fanciers than in other generations, besides, Pigeon Fancying
has its fashions; at times, it is all the rage to breed Carriers, other times the
Pouters, then again Almonds, or black, red, or yellow-mottled Tumblers; but a
thorough good Fancier now a day, never stoops to breed toy birds, as they
are called, the name being enough. If you require further proof of how little
“ase toy birds, as they are called, are held in estimation, read the account given
by Moorz, and compare the toys of the present day, and then you will perceive
how the Gentlemen of the Fancy have suffered them to degenerate, not being
worth the trouble bestowed upon them; but to return, had Moore seen the
Almond Tumbler in the state of perfection that Mayor described it, T firmly
believe he would have told us all about it; he was too honest a Fancier to have
done otherwise. Mayor gives a long and beautiful account of the Almond
Tumbler, too long for me to place it in this book, for if I placed Mayor’s account
of the Almond Tumbler, should I have acted fair if I withheld the whole of the
beautiful Treatise on the Almond Tumbler, by an Old Fancier, name not
Mentioned? The great unknown was no other than —— Winvvs, Esq., Solicitor,
Southampton Buildings, Holborn.

It would also enhance the price of the Work, that it is possible some of the
hmable, but honest Fanciers, would not consider themselves justified in purchasing
it; besides, having written my Almond Tumbler, it would not do for me to sit
in judgment and point out what was original matter, and what was not—this I
leave for your careful consideration.

* [ cannot help thinking that after carefully having studied and digested Moort’s
Work, that he has paid more attention to the Carrier and Pouter than he did to the
Tumbler. It is veryremarkable, but not more remarkable than true, that Moorp
does not mention the black-mottled Tumbler, the yellow-mottled Tumbler, or the
red-mottled Tumbler, neither does he mention the bald-head Tumbler, or the beard
Tumbler. He rather leaves me here in a fix, for asI stated before in a former part
Of this work, that we had no right to assume anything. Read Paragraphs 185, 186.
Tn Paragraph 186, Moors says, this Pigeon affords a very great variety of colours
in its plumage, as blacks, blues, whites, reds, yellows, duns, silvers, and in short
& pleasant mixture of all these colours with the white; at the same time I am
driven to exercise my brains upon this subject, and cannot help thinking but there
Must have been black, yellow and red -mottled Tumblers in Moorn’s day, and as
this Fancy ranks so high with Gentlemen Fanciers, I do feel astonished and
Surprised that he did not mention the mottles, bald-heads, or beard Tumblers, It
May be for aught I know, as I was not here one hundred and seventeen years ago,
that the mottles, bald-heads, and beards, was as prevalent then as they are now,
and Moore might have considered it unnecessary to mention it, or might have
- Considered that he had mentioned it when he stated there were Tumblers of all

I

66

188.—These Pigeons by their flight afford an admirable satisfaction, to thos?
gentlemen of the Fancy that have time to attend them, and make their observa-
tions ; for besides the pleasure that they afford by their tumbling, which is very
jconsiderable, they will rise to an immense height in the air, so that sometimes the
leye can scarcely follow them. I have frequently lost sight of them, though they
| have been almost perpendicular over my head and the day has been very cleat |
| and serene; yet by a fixed regard of the place where I lost them, (for they neve!
‘ramble far like the Horseman, and if good when they are used to each other, 4
' flight of a dozen will keep so close together, that you may cover them all with @
large handkerchief) I have at length perceived them, but so small that they
appeared no bigger than a sparrow.

189,—At this height they will keep two, three, four and sometimes five hours
together, nay I have heard it frequently asserted, that there have been pigeons of
this breed, which have flown nine hours, (*) when they are up at their pitch, the
better sort seldom or never tumble, choosing rather to afford you that diversiot
when they are more in sight, tumbling very often at the first beginning to rise, an
again when they are coming down to pitch.

190.—I now come to the method of raising a flight of Tumblers: and in the
first place, they ought, if you have convenience, to be kept in a loft by themselves,
not having any acquaintance, if possible, with your other pigeons; for if they are
used to fly with others, it will make them sink their flight, when they observe
others skimming in the air below them.

191,—Secondly, they ought to be turned out, and put upon flight only once 4
day at most, and that by themselves, after being well acquainted with yout
house ; the morning is the best time for this diversion, and after they are comé
down, throw them a little hempseed or rape and canary to entice them in and 90
keep them confined till the next day.

colours: I acknowledge there is, of whole or self-colour, as it is termed by thé
Fanciers.. Mayor, thirty years after, gives an excellent account of the blacks,
yellows,- and red-mottled Tumblers, also of the bald-head and beard Tumblers;
which I will place before you.

189.—Mayor, p. 70. Or twelve hours; but I hope to be excused in thinking
the Gentlemen of the flying Fancy may have been deceived in point of times
when they have made those assertions, though I cannot absolutely contradict it
I remember to have heard an old Fancier (not a mile from Long Acre) declare,
that he once had a flight of Tumblers that soared so prodigiously high that (t?
use his own words) he could see them when they were out of sight, which
undoubtedly, appears rather paradoxical; but as miracles never cease, we shall
suffer that to pass for one.

I cannot help thinking but that Mr. Mayor required.a little charity, with thé
old Fancier, for seeing his birds when out of sight; there is such a differenc?®
in our vision at times. You all know that at times we see double; and what
makes it so remarkable at the same time is, that none of us can see a hole throug!
a ladder. Itis possible the first might apply to the Old Fancier, and the second |
to Mayor. Fora moment allow me to indulge in the phantom of the mind; J
wonder where Mayor heard the old Fancier relate it, no doubt at a meeting of
the Fanciers, and they were mellowing their clay; you may depend upon it, it was
not at a Total Abstinence Society, for these places were not in fashion at the tim®

67

Thirdly. If possible get one or two that have been used to flying high, for they
Will train your young ones up the sooner.

192.—Besides these things, the Fanciers have observed particular seasons,
When a Tumbler will make a more extravagant flight than ordinary, as for instance,
When she sits upon eggs, and a few days after having fed off the soft meat; I can’t
find any philosophical reason to be given for this, yet as it is confirmed by obser-
vation, I thought it worth taking notice of.

193,—Another time, when they will make a very extraordinary flight, is, when
you observe ravens, crows or any other birds wantonly playing at a great height
i the air; this may be very easily accounted for, there being at such a time
Something, in the temperament of the air, suitable to the genius of those birds,
that delight in the upper regions of the atmosphere.

194.—Here I must advise the Fancier, not to turn out his Tumblers, when
there appear any signs of a rising fog, for by this means the sight of their habita-
tion is intercepted, and many a good flight lost for ever.

195.—A high wind will likewise drive them too far from home, so that if they
are not entirely lost, they may lie out all night, and so be exposed to the cats or
Various other accidents.

196.—Lastly, never turn out your hen Tumbler when she is with egg, for
besides that she is at that time sick and unfit to fly, so likewise by her long flight,
she may drop her egg, an instance of which I have known, and so prevent the
Mecrease of your breed. (*) ;

* 196,—Mayor, p. 64. There was also a prize last season for black-mottled
Tumblers, whose properties should agree with those of the Almond Tumbler,
except the feather, which should be a black ground, the body mottled with white,
With a black tail and flight ; and when they are in perfection, they are an excessive
pretty fancy, and very valuable. There is, likewise, another very pretty fancy,
equal at least, if not superior, to the black mottled, viz. the yellow -mottled
Tumbler ; whose properties likewise agree with the Almond Tumbler, except the
feather, which should be a yellow ground, the body mottled with white and a
yellow flight and tail. Hither of these two last mentioned fancies are extremely
useful (provided they answer in their other properties) to intermix occasionally
with the Almond.

_ Mayor, p. 106, presents you with a print of the black mottled Tumbler, as he
ig pleased to call it with about forty black feathers init; but on inspection, it is, in
fact, neither more or less than a white mottle with black flight and tail; and, as I
Said before, with between thirty and forty black feathers, spotted over it.

Moors not having mentioned this bird, but Mayor having given a beautiful
description of it, I shall only have to mention an omission, or it may be that it
Was not an omission, at all events, I believe it too late to prove whether in Moore
or Mayor’s time they had the handkerchief back, as is now understood by the
Fanciers of the present day ; whether they had or whether they had not, one
thing I do know, there is not any mention of it by Moors, Mayor, Grrtin, or
any other writer upon the black, yellow, or red mottle ; and I wish you to under-
Stand once for all, that a mottle is a mottle provided its colour be black, yellow,
ted, kite, or any other colour. I can very well recollect the time that I insisted
Upon the mottle of whatever colour, to have no other feather in it but about nine

68

or ten white feathers in the shoulder of the wing, and that to form the rose
pinion as it is called, being the most elegant of all pinions. However, listening
to some worthy old Fanciers who have greatly contended for the handkerchief
back, as arelief to the mottled Tumbler, by having the back a little way down
mottled with white feathers, and experiencing the difference between breeding
a bird for feather and that of giving an Artist instruction in painting a Portrait,
in which you can have nine, ten, or eleven white feathers placed in the portrait
just where you please. Itis otherwise with regard to breeding a mottle for feather,
for the white feathers may just come where you do not want it, and then you
call it spot rumped or glazed faced. Talk’s cheap and costs nothing! Iam aware
that in five minutes’ talk, you can breed prettier marked birds than in seven
year’s practise. It is possible you may puta question to me, and ask me whether
I consider it, a Hit or Miss? Luck’s all! To which I most distinctly answer, No.
But, on the contrary, requires great judgment, and knowing how your birds were
bred, as regard matching. I beg leave most respectfully to apologize to you, sir,
it being too late, and perceiving that you know a thing or two, of entering
further into the discussion, as I said before, considering the time of morning ;
I have only to act with you as the old crow did with the young crow, in giving
its best advice on being turned loose upon town or country; the old crow advised
the young crow, that if ever it saw the boys, of whatever size, to stoop down
to pick up a stone to throw at it, to be off immediately ; the young crow in its
simplicity, put it to the old crow what it should do provided these boys, of
whatever growth, should have a stone in their pockets, the old crow served the
young crow as I am going to serve you, by wishing you, Good Morning.

Mayor, p.74- The bald-pated Tumblers, which are of various colours in their
body, as blacks, blues, &c. with a clean white head, a pearl eye, white flight and
white tail, are esteemed good flyers, and are very pretty, even when fiying in the
air, for the contrast of the feather appears at that distance when the weather is
clear and fine; but the blue one are reputed to rise higher than any other colour.
There are also some called blue or black-bearded, that is either of those colours
having a long white spot from the under jaw and cheek, a little way down the
throat and regularly shaped, which has a pretty effect as an ornament; and if they
run clean in the flight and tail, as before mentioned in the bald-pated Pigeon,
they are accounted handsome.

I cannot by any possibility let this opportunity pass without noticing the
admiration the old Fanciers bestow upon the pretty little blue whole feather
Tumbler, with its black bars, whenever they have the opportunity to see one ; but
they are very scarce.

‘The Almond Tumbler, the black, red, and yellow mottled Tumbler, bald-head
and beards, of whatever colour in feather, the blue or white, or any colour,
provided it is not objectionable—the fact is, a Tumbler is a Tumbler for All that and
All that ; and they all require to be equally good as touching the five properties as
laid down by the Fanciers; a white short-faced Tumbler, possessing the five
properties with a pearl eye, would be considered a great curiosity, and would
realise a large sum of money, I knew an old Fancier, that after his death, one of

his bald-heads, at auction, realized twenty-five pounds ; and I knew another casé@
of a blue-beard, it was a bad colour, sooty blue or lead colour, that it could not be
purchased for ten pounds; therefore, it does not follow that it is so much in
feather, but the fact is, in the properties of Carriage, Head, Beak, &c. which it is
useless to attempt to deny, therefore it follows, the Almond Tumbler and other
Tumblers, equally possessing the five properties alike, differ in nothing but feather.

Mayor, p. 65. It may not be amiss before I conclude this head, to remark
a distinction which the Society of Columbarians make between Pigeon Fanciers
and Pigeon-keepers, viz.—such gentlemen who keep good of the sort, whether
they are Almond, black-mottled, or yellow-mottled Tumblers, Carriers, Pouters,
Horseman, Dragons, Leghorn or Spanish Runts, Jacobines, Barbs, Turbets, Owls,
broad tailed Shakers, Nuns, Spots, Trumpeters, &c., are styled Fanciers; on
the contrary, those who keep trash are called Pigeon-keepers, of which last
denomination there are a surprising number. It is prodigiously amazing and
unaccountable, that any gentleman will bestow food upon such as are not in
reality worth the tares they devour, and can be accounted for no other way than
by supposing such gentlemen utterly unacquainted with the true properties and
perfections of the several species they entertain, which it must be confessed is
rather an harsh supposition, (except they breed for the spit only, and even then
their table might be as amply supplied by the better sort), the expense of keeping
either being equal in every respect, the difference arising only in the purchase
of one pair. Should any objection be made to the expense of the first purchase
of the better sort, I answer it is infinitely cheaper to bestow four or five guineas
on one pair of good birds (which in a short time would sufficiently stock a loft,
and repay the purchase with great interest, Pouters or Leghorn Runts excepted,
because, as before observed, they must not be bred in and in), than to begin
with bad ones at eighteen pence a pair, the value of which can never be enhanced.
I hope I need not here apologize, or be thought illnatured by those gentlemen
whose fancy may differ from mine, in giving my real sentiments and opinion
so freely, as I have advanced nothing but matter of fact, and is the result of many
years experience, having been possessed (I believe I may venture to say, without
vanity), of as good, if not the best in England, of Fancy Pigeons, besides toys of
all kinds.

It is my intention of having two Almond Tumblers, a black-mottle, a red-
bald-head, and yellow-beard, all Tumblers to accompany this Work, for your
observations and reflections. I would here most particularly call your attention to
the five properties of the Tumbler, contained in my Almond Tumbler, p. jipgciete
In fact, the whole of my Almond Tumbler is applicable to any other Tumbler, as
touching the five properties, &c. &c. (with only the exception of the Feather.)
For what, after all, is an Almond, but a Tumbler! The cause of my writing so
little in this place upon the Tumbler is, having written so fully at another part of
the work on the Almond Tumbler, and, for the last time, to rivet on your memory,
is applicable to all Tumblers.

70

COLUMBA DOMESTICA LABRONIS seu PISARUM.
The Leghorn Runt.

197.—The Leghorn Runt is a stately large Pigeon, seven inches or better in
legs, close feathered, and fast fleshed, extremel
the back, he carries his tail, when he walks,
when he plays, he tucks it down ; his neck i
he carries bending like a goose or a swan.
‘y~ (hollow in his head, with’a thin skin round

198.—They are a very tender bird, (*) and great care ought to be taken of their
young ones. (+) I was offered seventeen shillings for a single cock, and Sir

ovBEY Tuomas would have given me a guinea and a half for the same bird. (+)
There are very few true original ones of this breed in England; and if matched to
a Spanish Runt, they will breed a very large Pigeon, closer in flesh and feather,
than the Spanish Runt, and will breed much faster 3(§) I have killed of their young
ones, which when on the spit were full as large as middling spring fowls; (||)

where note that these and all other Runts, increase in their bulk, till they are three
or four years old.

199.—As to their feather, they are various, but the best that I have scen were
either black or red mottled,

200.—There is a vast difference in these birds, and I have seen very bad ones,
that have been brought from-Leghorn, little better than a common Runt; how-
ever this is the genuine true description of the Leghorn Runt, which is more
valued than any other sort of Runts.

201.—This Pigeon was originally bred either at Pisce in the Duke of Tuscany’s
dominions, or at Pisze in Peloponesus, and from thence brought to Leghorn, and
so transmitted to us; but I rather judge the latter-because it answers the descrip-
tion of the Pigeon which Wittovensy in his Ornithology calls Columba Turcica
i seu Persica, the Turkish or Persian Pigeon,

|
|

* 198.—Mayor, p. 109. But I must beg leave to dissent from that opinion of
them, having kept them several winters in a little shed or room, one side of which
was entirely open, and exposed to the easterly winds, with no other fence but a
net, which kept them confined.

+ 198-—Ibid. p.109. For they rear but few in the season if left to bring them
up themselves, therefore it would be most proper to shift their eggs under a
Dragon, or some other good nurse, in the same manner as mentioned of the Pouter ;
remembering to give them a young one of some kind to feed off their soft meat, if
this method be pursued they will breed very well. ~

1 198.—Ibid. p. 109, Ihave known four guineas given for a pair of these birds.

$ 198.—Tbid. p. 109. I hada hen of the Leghorn breed that weighed two pounds
two ounces, avoirdupoise weight.

|| 198.—Gaetin, p. 83. Some of this sort when brought to table have appeared
as large as @ pullet; and a certain veteran Fancier of credit has assured us, that
he killed a hen of the Leghorn breed that weighed two pounds and a half,
avoirdupoise weight.

71

COLUMBA DOMESTICA HISPANLA.
, ‘The Spamsh Runt.

202.—This Pigeon, as may readily be perceived by its name, comes originally —
from Spain ; and is the longest bodied of all pigeons; I have seen them three. and —
) twenty inches long, from the Apex of the beak to the extremity of the tail, they
- are thick and short legged, loose feathered, and loose fleshed, and don’t walk erect
as the Leghorn Runt does.

203.—There are of all feathers in this kind of bird, but: being short-legged, are
apt to sit too heavy upon their eggs, and by that means break them, to prevent
which inconvenience, the best way is to put chalk eggs under them, and set their
eggs under a pair of smaller Runts or Powting-horseman, which are more kindly -
breeders ; not forgetting to give your Spanish Runts a pair of young ones, at the
time when they ought to hatch, that they may feed off their soft meat, which they
always prepare against that time.

204.—I have seen a Pigeon very much resembling the Spanish Runt, with
longer legs, but I rather take these Runts to come from Mexico, Peru, or some
other parts of the Spanish West Indies.

COLUMBA DOMESTICA FRISIA,
The Friesland Runt.

205.—This Pigeon comes from Friesland, and is one of the larger sort of
middle-sized Runts ; its feathers stand all reverted, and I can’t see for what it can
be admired except for its ugliness.

206.—There are other sorts of Runts, as the Roman Runt which is so big and

heavy it can hardly fly; and the Smyrna~Rint, which is middle sized and
feather-footed. I have seen the feathers growing on the outside of each foot, that .
they look as if they carried wings on.their feet, I have measured some of these |
feathers which have been four inches and a half long; these birds are very apt to_
' drag their eggs and young ones out of the nest, if not kept clean and dry. To
these we may add the common Runt, which are kept purely for the dish, and
generally in locker-holes in inn yards or other places, and are well known to every
body; they are good feeders and therefore good nurses for any of the more
curious sorts of Pigeons.

207.—The following sorts of Pigeons are generally deemed and called Toys by
the gentlemen of the Fancy.

COLUMBA MACULATA. The Spot.

208.—This Pigeon is about the size of a small Runt, and was first transmitted to
us from Holland, but from whence the original of this breed came, I can’t as yet
learn; they have a spot upon their heads, just above their beak, and from thence -
take their name, the feathers of the tail are of the same colour with the spot, and
the rest of their body is all white. The spot and tail in some of these Pigeons is ,
black, in others red, in others yellow; and I have been informed that there are /
some blue; they look pretty when they spread their tail and fly, and always breed \~
their young ones of the same colour.

COLUMBA RIDENS. The Laugher.

209.—This Pigeon is about the size of middling Runt, and much of the same
- make, and I am informed has a very bright pearl eye, almost white ; as for its
feather, it is red-mottled ; and some tell me they have seen blues. They are said

72

to come from the Holy Land near Jerusalem. When the cock plays to his hen,
he has a hoarse coo, not unlike the guggling of a bottle of water, when poured
out, and then makes a noise, which very much imitates a soft laughter, and from
thence this bird has its name.

COLUMBA TIBICEN. The Trumpeter.

210.—The Trumpeter is a bird much about the size of a Laugher, and very
runtishly made; they are generally pearle-eyed, black-mottled, very feather-
footed and legged, turn crowned like the Nun, and sometimes like a Finikin,
but much larger, which I take to be the better sort as being more melodious ; but
the best characteristic to know them, is a tuft .of feathers growing at the root of
the beak, and the larger this tuft.is, the more they are esteemed. The reason of
their name, is from their imitating the sound of a trumpet after playing: though
I once enquired of a German, who brought Pigeons over to sell here, the reason of
their being so called, and as he told me, he believed, was that they were first
brought to Holland by a drummer or trumpeter, and so were called trumpeters from
him. Credat Judeus Apella, let who will swallow this gudgeon, (*)

211.—The more salacious they are, the more they will trumpet; for which
reason, if you have a mind to be often entertained with their melody, you must
give them good store of hemp-seed; otherwise they will seldom trumpet much,
except in Spring, when they are naturally more salacious than usual.

COLUMBA CYPRIA CUCULLATA.
The Jacobine Pigeon.

212.—The Jacobine, or as it is vulgarly called for shortness, the Jack, is, if
true, the smallest of all Pigeons, and the smaller still the better; it has a range of
feathers inverted quite over the hinder part of the head, and reaching down on
each side of the neck to the shoulders of the wings, which forms a kind of a fryer’s
hood ; from hence this Pigeon has its name Jacobine, because the fathers of that
order all wear hoods to cover their bald crowns; hence the upper part of this
range of feathers is called the hood, and the more compact these feathers are, and
the closer to the head, so much the more this bird is esteemed: The lower part of
this range of feathers is called by us, the chain, but the Dutch call it the cravat,
the feathers of this chain ought to be long and close, so that if you strain the neck
a little, by taking hold of the bill, the two sides will lap over each other in some of
the best ; but there are but very few now to be found in England compleat.(f).

* 210,-—It appears a hundred and seventeen years ago, when Moore wrote his
book, there were gudgeons in the world, but since then the flats have become
more fashionable.

+ 212.—Mayor, p. 114. The breed of them having suffered much in my opinion
in general, by a wrong method of propagating them, viz.—that of intermixing
the breed of the Ruff with them, in order to improve their chain, by lengthening
the feathers thereof, whereby, the chain is considerably detrimented by being
looser, and not so closely connected as it otherwise would have been, had the
Jack and the Ruff been entirely kept separate. It has likewise caused the Jack
to be bred larger, a longer beak, and looser in its hood than it was originally ; for
the true Jack is a small bird, very little larger than a Tumbler, and the smaller
it is the better.

Mayor, p. 115. The Pigeon dealers-have a method of coaxing the hood and
chain of this bird (as the term is) which they perform by clipping the feathers

SE

re

73

213.—The Jacobine ought to have a very short bill, the shorter the better, and
4 clean pearle eye. 2 i / :

214,—As for the feather, there are reds, yellows, ougs, blacks and mottles ; but
be the feather what it will, they ought to have a clean white head, white flight, and mi)
white tail. A)

215.—Of these Pigeons some are feathered legged and footed, others are not, | ‘
and both sorts are equally esteemed, according to the various inclination of / j
different fanciers.(*)

'
i
t
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‘

COLUMBA CUCULLATA MINOR. Zhe Capuchine.

216.—This Pigeon is in shape and make very like the Jacobine, and has its
Name like the former from another set of hooded ecclesiastics.

__ 217.—It is something larger in body than the Jack, its beak longer, it has a
tolerable hood, but no chain, it is in feather ({) and other properties the same. Some
will assert it to be a distinct species, but I am more inclinable to imagine it is only

a bastard breed from a Jacobine and another Pigeon ; however thus far I am sure,

that a Jack and another will breed a bird so like it, as will puzzle the authors of

this assertion to distinguish it, from what they call their separate species.({).

at the back part of the head and neck, and continually stroking the hood and
chain forwards, which makes them advance further than they otherwise would ;
and sometimes they cut a piece of skin out between the throat and the chest, and
Sew it up again, by which means the chain is drawn closer. It should have a
Very small rise, &c.

* 215,—Mayor, p. 116. In France and Holland they have brought this species
to much greater perfection than in England, for of late years they have been
much neglected here, which I think the greater pity, as they are by far the most
Pleasing of any of the Toy Pigeons whatever. A very ingenious gentleman of
My acquaintance, and an exceeding good Fancier, as well as a great Naturalist,

being at Paris last summer, purchased two pairs of these birds, and charged

himself with the trouble and care of bringing them,over to England, which he
effected, in order to restore the true original breed of them, but was prevented
in that, by a cat getting into his loft, and thereby destroying them all.

Mayor, p. 117. The following being in itself so uncommon, and a Fact,"

T cannot help taking notice of it; a person the other day passing through Fleet
Street, seeing a print of this bird at a shop window, stopped to make his
Observations thereon, and having well viewed it he went in and purchased it,
- declaring to the seller, that he never saw a stronger likeness in his life, and, as
for the wig, it was exactly the same he always wore, for he imagined it altogether
% caricature of one of his intimate acquaintances; and the person of whom he

: bought it, did not think it necessary at that time to undeceive him.

+ 217.—Mavor, p. 121. Its feathers is various, sometimes blue, red, yellow,
Mottled, black, &c.; but should, like the Jack, always have a clean white head,
White flight and white tail, and a pearl eye. .

t 217,—Ibid. p. 122. These sort are in very small esteem amongst the Fanciers,
though each particular species have their admirers.

K

74

COLUMBA VESTALIS. TZhe Nun.

218.—The Ruff should in proper order have been next inserted, as being nearest
in kind to the two foregoing; but we chose rather to introduce the Nun in this
place, that she might be as near as possible to those venerable sons of the church,
who generally take a great delight to associate themselves with the female saints.

219.—The Nun therefore is a bird somewhat larger than a Jacobine, her
plumage is very particular, and she seems entirely to take her name from it, her
head being as it were covered with a veil. (*)

220.—Her body is all white, her head, tail and six of her flight feathers ought
to be entirely black, red and yellow; (+) and whatever feathers vary from this are
said to be foul, though the best of them all will sometimes apt to breed a few foul
feathers, and those that are but little so, though not so much valued, will often
breed as clean feathered birds as those that are not.

221.—A Nun ought likewise to be pearle-eyed, and to have a white hood, or tuft
of feathers on the hinder part of the head, which the larger it is, adds a consider-
able beauty to the bird.

COLUMBA GALEATA. The Helmet.

223.—This Pigeon is much about the size of a Nun, or somewhat bigger. The
head, tail, and flight-feathers of the wings, are always of one colour, as black, red,
yellow; and I have been informed there are some blue, and all the rest of the
| body white, so that the chief difference between them and the Nun is, that they
have no hood on the hinder part of the head and are generally gravel-eyed.

224,—They are called Helmets from their heads being covered with a plumage

which is distinct in colour from the body, and appears somewhat like a helmet to
cover the head.

COLUMBA CUCULLATA RUDIS. The Ruf:

225.—This Pigeon is larger than the true original Jacobine, though in: shape
and make much the same. (1)

226.—It has a longer beaky the irides of the eyes in some are of a pearl-colour,
in others of a gravel colour, the feathers of its hood and chain are much longer.
though the chain does not come down so low to the shoulders of the wings, neither
are they near so compact and close as the others, but are apt to blow about with

* 919,.—Mayor, p.123. Is a bird that attracts the eye greatly, from the contrast
in her plumage, which is very particular. :

220.—Ibid. p. 123. Namely, if her head be black, her tail and flight should be
black likewise ; if her head be red, then her tail and flight should be red; or if her
head be yellow, her tail and flight should be also yellow ; and are accordingly called
either red-headed Nuns, yellow-headed Nuns, &c. Should a black-headed Nun
have a white or any other coloured feather in her head, except black, she would be
called foul-headed ; or a white feather in her flight, she would be foul-flighted, &¢
and the same rule stands good in the red-headed or yellow-headed Nuns.

+ 225,—Mayor, p.119. Insomuch that they have been frequently sold for such,
to those who havé not thoroughly understood the properties belonging to the Jack.

every blast of wind, fall more backward off the head, and lie in a rough confused
manner, whence the Pigeon has its name. (*)

227,—The strain of Jacobines has been much vitiated by matching them to this
Pigeon, in order to improve their chain by the length of the Ruff’s feathers, but
instead of this, the Jack is bred larger, longer peaked, looser in its hood and chain,
and in short worsted in all its original properties.

COLUMBA IN GYRUM FLECTENS, The Finmikon.

2928.—This Pigeon is in make and shape very like a common Runt, and much
about the same size. The crown of its head is turned much after the manner of a
snakes head ; it is gravel-eyed and has a tuft of feathers on the hinder part of the
crown, which runs down its neck not unlike a horses main? it is cleaned footed.
and legged and always black, and blue pied. When it is salacious, it rises over its
hen and turns round three or four times, flapping its wings, then reverses and |
turns as many the other way. .

929.—Where a gentleman in the country to stock a dove-house with this sort of
Pigeons, their whimsical gestures might engage the country people to imagine he
kept an enchanted castle.

230.—Some people disapprove of this sort of Pigeons as apt to vitiate their
other strains by making a hen squat by these antic gestures; but in fact they are
no more dangerous that way than any other breed when salacious. —

COLUMBA CIRCUMAGENS. The Turner.

231,—This Pigeon is in many respects like the Finnikin, except that when it is
salacious and plays to the female in turns only one way, whereas the other turns |
both; it has no tuft on the hinder part of the head, neither is it snake-headed.

COLUMBA NUMIDICA. Zhe Barb, or Barbery Pigeon.

232.—This Pigeon is in size somewhat larger than a, Jacobine, it is called a, Barb
for shortness instead of the Barbary Pigeon, being originally brought from that
country.
233.—It has a very short beak like a bull-finch, with a very small wattle, and a |
naked circle of tuberous red flesh round the eyes, whose irides are of a pearle colour, ©
the broader and redder this flesh is, the more the bird is valued, though it is very
narrow when the bird is young, and does not come to its full growth till they are
four years old. Some of them have a tuft of feathers on the hinder part of the )
head, somewhat like a Finniken, and others not. eg
_ 934,-Mr. Wittoveusy, in his description of this bird, is guilty of a very great
mistake, in imagining the tuberous flesh to be white in some birds of this kind,
which it never is, though it will grow paler when the bird is sick; but when it

recovers, always reassumes Its wonted redness.

935.—Their original colour is either black or dun, though there are Pieds of
both these feathers, but they are bred from the Barb and Mahomet, and are not so
much valued.

+ 226.—Mavyor, p. 120. Their feather is also the same as that of the Jack; so
that it is not to be so much wondered at, that those who were unacquainted with
the properties of the true original Jack, should have a Ruff imposed on them in its
stead ; but I hope we have sufficiently described the Ruff to be worse than the Jack
in all its properties, so as to prevent future impositions of that kind.

76
COLUMBA NUMIDICA ALBA. The Mahomet.

236.—This Pigeon is no more in reality than a white Barb, which makes the
red tuberous flesh round the eyes look very beautiful. All that can further be
added with regard to this Pigeon, is to assign the reason, why this name of
Mahomet is given to it, which I take to be this.

237.—Mahomet, the imposter prophet of the Turkish religion, and author of the
Alcoran, is reputed by some authors, and those of good note, as Scaliger, Grotius,
and Sionita, to have made use of the following stratagem, to induce the credulous
Arabians to believe that he conversed frequently with the Holy Spirit, and received
from his mission as a prophet, and the new doctrines he was about to broach.

238.—This imposture he carried on in this manner: he took a young pigeon of
this kind which we are now describing, and which by the immaculate whiteness of
its plumage, was not an improper emblem of purity and the celestial dove: this
bird he brought up by hand, and made it very tame and familiar, till at last he
taught it to eat meat out of his ear, which he might easily do, especially if he
fed it with rape or hemp-seed there, which all Pigeons are naturally fond of, till
at last the Pigeon would come frequently to search for its food there. This bird
he imposed upon the Arabians to be the Holy Ghost, whispering the dictates of the
Almighty, and teaching him the precepts ‘of his new law, and from hence, this
bird is called after him by the name of Mahomet. (*)

239.—Since we are thus entered into the story of this Imposter, it may net be
amiss to amuse our readers, with a stratagem an Arabian girl made use of to prove
the truth of his pretended mission; the story as related by D. Prideaux in his life
of Mahomet runs thus.

240.—Three years before his death, he led forth his army against Chaibar, a city
inhabited by Arabs of the Jewish religion, who being overthrown by him in battle,
he besieged their city and took it by storm. And here those who are the magni-

fiers of Ali, tell this miracle of him, that in the assault, Sampson like, he plucked
up one of the gates of the city (which was of that weight, saith Abul Feda, that
eight other men could not move it) and held it before him for a shield to defend
himself against the beseiged, tili the city was taken. On Mahomet’s entering the
town, he took up his quarters in the house of Hareth, one of the principal inhabit-
ants of the place; whose daughter Zainab making ready a shoulder of mutton for
his supper, poisoned it; and here those who are for ascribing miracles to Mahomet,
tells us that the shoulder of mutton spoke to him, and discovered that it was
poisoned; but it seems if it did so, it was too late to do him any good. For
Basher, one of his companions, falling on too greedily, to eat of it, fell down
dead on the place. And although Mahomet had not immediately the same fate,
because not liking the taste, he spit out again what he had taken into his mouth,

* 238,—Mayor, p. 141. So far Mr. Moors: and I think he has extremely well
accounted for its being so called; but it is the opinion of many Fanciers, that the
bird called 4 Mahomet is nearly a cream coloured, with bars cross the wings as
black as ebony, the feathers very particular, being of two colours: the upper part
or surface of them, appearing of a cream, and underneath a kind of sooty colour,
nearly approaching to black ; as are likewise the flue-feathers, and even the skin,
which I never observed in any other Pigeon but these ; its size much like that of a
Tuibit, with a fine gullet, and in lieu of a frill, the feathers rather appear like a
seam, the head is short, and inclined to be thick ; hath an orange-eye, and a small
naked circle of black flesh round the same; anda beak something resembling that
of a bullfinch with a small black wattle on it.

Mayor, p. 142. I must confess I rather think this bird a mixed strain, between
a Turbit and some other Pigeon.

77

/ _ yet he let down enough to do his business: for he was never well after this supper,
_ and at three years end died of it, The maid being asked why she did this,
answered, that she had a mind to make trial whether he were a prophet or no.
or were he a prophet, said she, he could certainly know that the meat was
Poisoned ; and therefore would receive no harm from it; but if he were not a
Prophet, she thought she should do the world good service in ridding it of so
| Wicked a tyrant.

\ 241.—During his sickness, he much complained of the bit which he had taken
at Chaibar, telling those that came to visit him, that he had felt the torments of it

in his body ever since, and that at times it brought on him very dolorous pains, .
and that then it was going to break his very heart strings. And when among
others, there came to see him the mother of Basher, who died on the spot, of that
Poison, he cried out, O mother of Basher, the veins of my heart are now breaking

of the bit which I eat with your son at Chaibar: so that it seems notwithstanding
the intimacy which he pretended with the angel Gabriel, and the continual revela-
tion which he bragged that he received from him, he could not be preserved from
thus perishing by the hands of a silly girl.

COLUMBA FIMBRIATA. The Turbit.

242,—The reason, why this pigeon is so named by the English, I cannot by
any means account for; the low Dutch call it cort-beke, (*) or short-bill upon the |
account of the shortness of its beak.

243.—It is a small Pigeon very little bigger than a Jacobine, its beak is very \
short like a partridge, and the shorter the better; it has a round button head, and \}
the feathers on the breast open and reflect both ways, standing out almost like a /
fringe or the frill of a modern shirt; this is called the purle, and the more of it

the bird has, the more it is admired.

244,—As for the feather, their tail and back of the wings ought to be of one
entire colour, as blue, black, red, yellow, dun and sometimes chequered; (+) the
flight feathers and all the rest of the body should be white. ({) They are a very pretty
ight pigeon, and if used to fly when young, some of them make very good flyers.
T have seen a flight of them kept by one Girton that would mount almost high
as ‘Tumblers. (§) ; “

245.—There are of this sort all white, black, and blue, which by a mistake are
often called and taken for owls.

COLUMBA BUBO NOMINATA. The Owl.

246.—This Pigeon is in make and shape like the former, except that the upper ae
thap of its beak is hooked over like an owl’s, from whence it has its name, pi

* 949,—GrrTIn, p. 95. From a corruption ef the word cortbeck, or cortbete, |
as it is called by the Dutch, which word seems to be originally derived from the
French courtbec, and signifies a short bill, for which this Pigeon is remarkable.
+ 244,-Mayor, p. 127. The red and yellow ones excepted, whose tails should
be white ; and those that are blue, should have black bars across the wings.
t 244,—Mayvor, p.128. And are called by the Fanciers (according to the colour
4 they are of) as black-shouldered, yellow-shouldered, blue-shouldered Turbits, &e.
§ 244.—Giriin, p. 96. 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.
246.—Mayor, p. 125. This bird, from its pleasing, meek, and innocent aspect,
| I should have described immediately after the Jacobine, it being, in my opinion,

718
247.—Its plumage (*) is always entirely white, blue, or black. (+)

COLUMBA TREMULA LATICAUDA.
The Broad-tailed Shaker.

248.—This Pigeon, has a beautiful long thin neck, which bends like the neck of
a swan, leaning towards the back ; it has a frequent tremulous motion, or shaking
in the neck, especially when salacious, which is the reason they are called
Shakers. It has a full breast, a very short back, and a tail consisting of a great
number of feathers, seldom less than four and twenty, which it spreads in a very
elegant manner, like the tail of a turkey cock, and throws it up so much that the
head and tail frequently meet.

fault.

250.—They are most commonly all white, though I have seen both black, blue,
red and yellow pieds, but the white ones have generally the best carriage in their
_ tail and head: there are two sorts of these broad-tailed shakers, the one having a

_|neck much longer and more slender than the other, but the longest neck is the
| most beautiful and the most esteemed.

COLUMBA TREMULA ARCTICAUDA.
The Narrow-tailed Shaker.

251.—This Pigeon is reckoned by some a distinct species, though I am apt to
believe it is only a bastard breed between the foregoing and some other bird. Its
neck is shorter and thicker, its back longer, the feathers of its tail are not so much
spread out, but fall as it were double, lying over one another, and the tail generally
lops very much. (f)

the next in point of beauty ; but as Mr. Moore observes: “ ’Tis pity to separate
those venerable Sons of Clergy, and the female Saints,” therefore, we have
suffered them to follow each other for that reason only. It has a very round
button head and gravel eye.

* 947,—Mayor, p. 126. The feathers on the breast open and reflect both ways
expanding itself something like a rose, which is called the purle by some, and
by others the frill, and the more the bird has of that the better, with a gullet
reaching down from the beak to the frill.

+ 247,—Mayor, p. 126. Or yellow, &c., except some that are chequered. The
blue ones should have black bars across the wings, and the lighter they are in
colour, particularly in the hackle, the more they are valued. These birds should
have their breeding places made so that they may sit in private, as mentioned
under the head of building a loft, for they are very wild, like the Carrier, and
apt to fly off their eggs if in the least disturbed.

{ 251.—Mayor, p. 131. Its feather varies as the former, but are generally
white ; though I have seen an Almond of this sort, which was purchased by 4
certain nobleman.

An Alphabetical Explanation of some of the less
made use of in the course of this Work.

A.

Abstemious, moderate, or temperate.

Adapted, made fit for.

Adepts, masters of, or proficients in.

Adulterated, counterfeited, or made
worse.

Agriculture, the art of husbandry, or
improvement of land to make it
fertile.

Alcoran, the Turks book of their law or
gospel, written by the false prophet
Mahomet.

Anus, the orifice, or hole of the funda-
ment.

Apex, the point or top of anything.

Atmosphere, that part of the air next
our earth which receives and con-
tains the vapours and exhalations.

B.
Bashaw, a governor or magistrate of a
particular place, or province among
the Turks, Bazora a city in Persia.

Cataplasm, a poultice. Cephalza, an
obstinate head-ache,

Chalazze, hail-stones.

Characteristic, a mark or sign.

Chronic, that which is of a long con-
tinuance, and not presently coming to
a height.

Cognisance, knowledge or notice.

Coition, the intercourse between male
and female.

Compact, close, well joined together.

Concurrence, meeting, or assistance.

Contiguous, close, touching, as when
the surface of one body meets with
another.

Contingency, casualty, or accident.

Contrast, a difference, or opposition of
figure, which is reckoned beauty.

Caustic, a composition for burning, or
eating holes in the part to which it is
applied.

Dalliance, toying, or wantonness.

Diarrhea, looseness.

Dictates, precepts, or rules.

Dissolution, a dissolving or separation
of the parts. ;

Diuretic, that provokes urine.

Dolorous, grievous, sad.

E.

Effeete, barren.

Emblem, a representation of some mo-
ral notion by way of picture, or
device,

$ common Words .

Emergent, something of consequence
that happens ona sudden,

Emisssion, a sending forth, a casting out.

To engender, to breed within, com-
monly spoken of animals, and not of |
human nature. :

Erect, upright.

Eruption, an issuing, or breaking out.

Excrementitious, pertaining to the
excrement, or whatever is evacuated,
or cast out of the body.

Excrescency, superfluous flesh that
grows to any part of the body.

Exhausted, drained or emptied.

External, outward.

Extremity, the edge, end, brink, or
border of a thing.

To Extrieate, to disentangle, or dis-
engage. F.

Fertility, fruitfulness.

Foetus, the young of any animal per-
fectly formed.

Frail, the basket in which raisins are
brought over.

Furfuraceous, scurfy, from its resem-
blance to bran.

Generation, a real action, whereby a
living creature begets another like it
of the same kind.

Genius, disposition, or inclination.

Genuine, natural, or real.

Genus, the kind.

Immaculate, spotless, unspotted.

Immense, unmeasurable, vast, prodi-
gious.

Immerst, plunged or dipped into.

To Impregnate, to render prolific, or fit
to bring forth

Incident, liable to, any thing that
happens, or falls out.

Incubation, sitting a brood.

Incompatible, not suitable to, not agree-
ing with.

Inferior, lower in degree, worse.

Ingredient, the separate parts, that go -
to the making up a mixed body.

Injecting, casting or squirting in.

Innate, inbred, natural.

Instinct, that disposition, or natural
sagacity in any creature, which by its
peculiar formation it is naturally
endowed with, by virtue whereof,
they are enabled to provide for them-
selves, know what is good for them
and are determined to preserve and
propagate their species.

Intercepted, prevented,

‘Internal, inward.

Inverted, turned backward, or the con-
trary way from the common custom.

Iris, the circle round the black spot, or
pupil of the eye.

Trides, the plural number of the fore-
going. L.

Lieu, the place, sete or stead of.

IVE.

Machine, an engine fitted for some
peculiar purpose.

Magnitude, size, bulk, bigness.

Malady, a disease.

Malignity, hurtfulness,
quality.

Matrix, that part of the womb wherein
the foetus, or the egg is conceived
and nourished till the time of its
delivery.

Megrims, a distemper which affects the
temples or head.

Mission, a sending, or an authority to
preach.

mischievous

N.
Nitrous, having the quality of nitre:
Nutriment, nourishment or food.

O.

Oesophagus, the gullet, being a passage
for the food, situate behind the wind-
pipe.

Operation, a labouring or working.

Ornithology, a description of the several
kinds and natures of birds.

Ossificated, turned to, or become bone.

Ovary, that part of the womb in which
the eggs are contained, called by the
fanciers, the egg-bag.

P

Perpendicular, directly upright.

Plastic virtue, a term invented by natu-
ralists to express the faculty of gener-
ation.

Plumage, the colour and mixture of the
feathers.

Pores, holes, or void spaces between the
particles or smaller parts of matter.

Potent, powerful.

Potestates, or powers, are the result of

" acombination or union of the essential
oils with the spirit, wherein it is sup-
posed are contained all the principal
virtues,

Pressure, the pressing of the air by its
gravity or weight

Priority, being first in rank, order, or
dignity. :

Progeny, offspring, issue, or race.

Projecting, standing out.

Prolific, fruitful, apt to breed.

Propagation, the act of encreasing, of
multiply the kind,

Protuberant, bunching, or standing out.

Provocative, apt to provoke, or stir up.

Pustules, wheals or pimples full of
matter.

R.

Reception, receiving.

Recipe, a prescription or bill, giving
directions for preparing or compound-
ing of a medicine.

Reflected, turned back.

Repository, a place to lay up anything.

Resservoir, a receiver to retain any-
thing till wanted.

Restorative, of a restoring or strength-
ening nature.

Reverses, turns backs.

Reverted, turn back.

Ss.

Sagacity, wisdom or cunning.

Salacious, wanton, rank.

Salaciousness, wantonness, or rankness.

Scrophula, the evil.

Seraglio, the palace of the grand Seig-
nior at Constantinople, where he
keeps his court, concubines, &c.

Species, a particular sort.

To Stagnate, to stand still, as water in a
pool, without motion.

Subventaneous, addle.

Sustenance, food, nourishment,

Symmetry, a due proportion, or unifor-
mity of parts, in respect to the whole.

ee

Temperament, a proper mixture of the
elements,

Tour, a turnabout.

Transmitted, sent over.

Tremulous, shaking or quavering.

Tuberous, full of knots, or small swel-
lings.

Tumor, a rising or swelling in the

body.

Uterus, the womb.
Unctuous, oily, greasy.

Vertigo, a giddiness or swimming in the
head; an indisposition in the brain.
Virago, a hen that beats or fights with a
cock, taking the offices of the male
upon her,

Vital, belonging to, or supporting life.

Vitellary, the cluster of eggs in a hen,
from their resemblance to a bunch of
grapes.

Vitiated, corrupted, spoiled, made worse.

FINIS.

[AS REGARDS MR, MOORE’S WORK ]

THE LACE PIGEON.
Mayor, p. 143. This bird is, I believe, originally bred in Holland, where I am _

Seen in England at present: it is"in size rather less than a common Runt, and like
it in shape and make; though I once saw a Shaker of this kind: their colour is
_ white, and they are valued on account of their scarcity and the peculiarity of their
' feathers; the fibres, or web, of which appear disunited from each other throughout
their whole plumage, and not in the least connected, as in common with all other

Pigeons, where they form a smooth close feather.

THE FRILL BACK.

Mayor, p.. 144, Is something less in size than a Dragoon, and in shape like
the common Runt; their colour generally (if not always) white; and what “Is
chiefly remarkable in them is, the turn of their feathers, which appear as if every
one distinctly had been raised at the extremity with a small round pointed instru-
ment, in such manner as to form a small cavity in each of them.

Gratin, p. 107. Or, as if the bird had been under the hands of some of our
~ modern hair-dressers, and had its plumage frizzed and curled at the ends. It is
in size less than the common Runt, though very much like it in shape; and its
plumage is always white. '

THE SMITER.

Girtin, p. 107. 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,
ee though it does not tumble, 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)

which is frequently the cause of its shattering or breaking its quill-feathers.

THE CHINESE PIGEON.

-Girriy, p. 108. This beautiful little Pigeon is a native of Pekin in China, and —
was imported into Eurape in some of the Companies’ 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. Itis a very scarce and dear bird, and in our
opinion one of the greatest curiosities of the Pigeon kind, therefore for the satis-
faction of our readers we shall give a particular description of it.

This Pigeon in size is rather less than the common Swallow; the sides of the
head are yellow, but the top, and the space round the eyes are of an ash 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 head and 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 extremities 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 a
lovely pale rose colour. The tail, which is composed of twelve feathers, is a
mixture of dusky and bright; the legs and feet are red, and the claws black.

PORCELAIN PIGEON.

There are many other species of Pigeons of which Moors, Mayor, or G1rTIN

ae

informed there are great numbers of them; though not one that I know of to be ©

does not mention, viz., the Magpie, the common Runt, the Archangel, the |
: | ane eine

j

ee

—

aa etn erties -
SSS
ane am eS men

82

Porcelain, the Antwerps, &. &c. The Magpie Pigeon resembles the Magpie in
feather, from which it derives its name. The common Runts are as familar with
us as the House-Sparrow, which you will observe at a country inn on the road side
when youstop to bait your horse, and kept on farms; it is somewhat different with
the Archangel, they are not sq.common as the common Runts, but as regards head
and beak, I think not superior what the Fanciers intend doing with this bird Iam
at'a loss to know, whether they intend to breed it down to the Tumbler’s head and
beak, or carry it out to the Carrier’s head and beaki\leaving it as they have found
it, is not progressing ; as it is, it will scarce bear looking at, except it is for its
feather, which are such quiet colours. When I attended the sale of the late Sir
Joun Szpricut’s Bantoms and Pigeons, Archangels were knocked down by
the hammer at about three guineas per pair, the Fancier could not distinguish any
properties in them but bad ones ; therefore thought them worthless, and would not
give them loft room. I received a basket of Pigeons from Ireland, and among
them two Archangels, the one alive the other dead, from some cause; I thought
.of making a feeder of the cock, for my short-faced Almonds and black mottled
Tumblers, but on reflection considered it too coarse, that it would wrench the
beak, I caused it to be offered to the shops for sale, none of them would give
more than a shilling or eighteen pence for it; I thought it more valuable at that
time, and put it back into the cocks’ loft; a country gentleman noticed it for its
bronze feather, I mentioned to him if he would accept it, He accepted it. It was
the first, and I believe will be the last, if it was possible that I could remain in the
Fancy for the next fifty years, unless I became in my second childhood.

With regard to the Porcelain Pigeons, I never’ saw but one pair, black ground
and most beautifully mottled; differently mottled to the black mottled Tumbler ;
they were in a basket, placed rather high and out of my reach, and writing from

- memory. The Fancier has his work to do if he intends to make it a valuable bird,
and cause it to be admired by the gentlemen of the Fancy. The best thing I think
he can aim at, is to cross it-with a Carrier, and by perseverance, in time, to obtain
the Carrier with its beautiful formed long-faced, straight narrow head with a dent
in the centre, retaining its beautitul mottled plumage ; unless this or something
else be done with this bird, it will not be thought anything more of by good
Fanciers than the Archangels. With regard to what there is in a name, I do not
think that it is correct to suppose, that because a bird is called an Archangel that it
must follow that it came from Russia ; or a Pigeon is called an Antwerp, that it
must of necessity be originally bred at Antwerp (more in its place when I come to
give an account of the Antwerp Pigeon) ; for instance, if a captain of a vessel from
California, or any of the new discoveries in South Australia, he being a little bit of
a Fancier only about the edges, seeing Pigeons or something he thought had a
resemblance to Pigeons, but something rather peculiar to Pigeons, the captain
considering the vast amount of trouble he has had in bringing this pair of birds
from Australia, is determined to get rid of them on the first opportunity ; his vessel
arriving at the London ports, and taking them into the best markets he is aware of,
(say Leadenhall, for argument sake) ; when he has ascertained the highest price
that the most respectable dealers will give him for this pair of birds, he hopes
that God will forgive him if ever he attempts to bring another pair. A ricketty
or crotchetty old gentleman, one of the olden times, passing through Leadenhall
market, seeing and supposing that he knew some little about Pigeons, and it may
be for ought I know, very little ; nevertheless he purchases this pair of birds, having
obtained them, he is bothered what to call them, but luck is always in the way of
some men, and looking on his way home into a china shop, and seeing china
spaniels and birds in china of different sorts, nothing so quick as thought, he stamps
them and calls them Porcelain birds, simply and honestly at the same time from
what he had witnessed at this china shop.

83.

THE ANTWERP.

With regard to the Antwerp, I am bound to give you all the information I
Possess, however little that may be; it is a new bird, comparatively speaking:
I believe very little was known of this bird in England until the great Match,
when Mr. Francis Repman, of the Borough, but now of the Swiss Cottage,
Regent’s Park, an acknowledged good Fancier, who tossed (as it is called by |

anciers) from off London Bridge, one hundred and ten of these birds (Antwerps), |
about one hundred reached home; there is not a doubt but that all of these birds
had been severally trained by the Dutch fishermen, who bring their cargoes of
Fish, &c. to Billingsgate market, and who are in the habit of practising these
sharp Antwerps, as they are called. I believe that if all their sharp birds (that
is the proper name) was practised and sold to the Cockney Fanciers of London,

I firmly believe that nine out of ten would return to their home. Mr. Gites, of,
the firm of Gites & Co, of the celebrated bird shop, &c. &c. formerly of Mutton
Hill, Clerkenwell, but now close by, having returned from Antwerp, &c. &c.
after purchasing a large quantity of canary birds, gold fish, &c. &c. also a lot of
Pigeons : it so happened that I was the first that saw the Pigeons, they looked
as though they could eat me, (or like year-off larks in a store cage, when caught
trammelling for brancher, or nestling sky-larks.) I picked fifteen out of the lot,
and one was a very strong beautiful white owl, who unfortunately got out of the |
pen and went through a pane of glass like a brick-bat. I informed Guixes of it; |
his answer was, That it would not stop till it reached Antwerp. I believe so, and
so would you, if you had seen how it took the pane of glass; the other fourteen
Antwerps I kept in the loft and trap; these wild devils (if I may be permitted
to use such a term) for six weeks, whenever I went up into the loft, were always
in the trap, appearing to me as looking out for a chance, providing opportunity
would favor them during that time. Whenever I went into the loft where
these birds were, they came about my eyes like brick-bats ; I had often to put on
my spectacles for preservation, for fear of their cutting my eyes out of the sockets
of my head. I had enough of these birds confined, therefore I was determined
they should fly. I went to work; as I supposed, very cunning; ordered ample -
food and water to be placed in the loft, that would supply them the next day,
so'as not to go into the loft to scare them away : my boy and myself agreeing at
dark to let down the traps, and not going to see till candle-light next night: these |
Antwerp birds did fly with a vengeance; for, at candle-light next evening,
although we had endeavoured to act very cunning, when we came to look for
the Antwerps, there was two stopped; I presume, they were the most foolish.
For instance, one of the lot of the celebrated Match that was thrown up at
London Bridge was caught in Kent Street, Borough. In conversation one day
with an excellent short-faced Fancier, I being desirous of obtaining information
as touching the originality of this bird, not telling him that 1 was writing
this book, I put the question to him, and asked, How the Antwerp was
bred? He said, It was bred from two birds, and then crossed with the Antwerp ;
I stopped him, and asked him, How he got the Antwerp; this bothered him, he
laughed heartily, acknowledged he was in a fix, and gave it up, I wasno better ;
still determined, if possible, to give you some little account of this useful bird,
went to Mr. Ginzs, who informed me a particular old acquaintance of his, a
Yorkshireman, who went to Antwerp, married there,.and kept an hotel ; that he
Became an enthusiastic Pigeon Flyer, and had a place half as long as a street ;
- whenever Gites was at Antwerp he put up at this hotel, and ascertained the way
they obtained the Antwerp or sharp bird, was from the cross of their Owl and our
English Dragon; theré are other ways of breeding sharp or cunning birds, and
that is by crossing the long-faced and long-flighted“ Beard-over to the English
Dragon, and their young over to the Owl. The Antwerp bird is such a marked
bird, and the more ugly it is the better they perform their work—that is, of Flying ;
they have a high head (not like the Carrier) at the same time mousey, with a

cet OO CI
.

84

down beak, like unto a man with a Roman nose ; they are of various colours, and
one out of ten, more or less for argument, have a brighter than a pearl eye, as the
Almonds have, for some few of the Antwerps heve a pure clear white eye, not
surpassed by any Pigeon we have. The Flying Fanciers of Antwerp care not a
straw what the colour of the bird is, provided it will do execution in flying, and
it is their opinion that the gravelly-coloured-eye bird, will perform more execution
than the truly beautiful clear white eye, which some of these birds have: there is
an erroneous notion with some Fanciers, who assert, that it is not an Antwerp
unless it has a pearl eye. I have no doubt but you have heard, that, on the
Continent, the people take as deep an interest in their extraordinary Flying
Matches, as some people in this country take in Horse Racing. I dare
not trust my memory, and now writing from memory, and not knowing where
to inform you to look to authenticate my assertion, to the best of my belief,
the account I am about to give you, is that in a grand match from some
part of Spain to Antwerp, that some of these birds performed the distance of
six hundred miles. It is possible you may have read the account as well as
myself; I have read of Pigeons doing two thousand miles; I do not believe
all Tread. When I first came into the Fancy, and looking out for short-faced
birds, and being at the late Mr. Arrwoon’s, he, in conversation with some of
the flying Fanciers, stated that Beards of five-eighths, was quite long enough
to do Dover to London. ~ I was pleased to hear this remark, for I thought I had
dropped into the right shop, and should obtain some short-faced half-inch
Almonds. I then asked him if he had got some short-faced Almonds, he said
could I not see them; to which I answered, No; and had to come out of the
shop as I went in. It was only last week that a friend of mine was informing
me of some Squeakers doing Newmarket to London ; I spoke to him on the
subject, he admitted they had thrown a feather, and they were Grunters instead
of Squeakers. Reading Bell’s Life, I often read of bets and matches at
Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, and other places, for a home and home
match, for four or five miles, the distance is nothing; I admit the difference
of a few seconds in which the winning bird does it. If you want a good home
‘and home match, make a match from London and Birmingham, London and
Sheffield, London and Manchester, or London and Liverpool, this would be
something like a homing match; but four or five miles is nothing, when you
read the account of Beards of five-eighths doing Dover to London, or Grunters
doing Newmarket to London; every man has not the opportunities to train
and practice his birds like others. I have known some most villanous things
come to light in Fanciers trusting to others to toss their birds. _The late Mr.
Spicer, who formerly kept the Peacock at Islington, had great facilities over
others in tossing birds; formerly the coaches to Birmingham, Manchester, and
Liverpool, stopped at his house, and the coachmen and guards use to practice his
birds for him ; still it is a great pity that these sharp, subtle, cunning birds, even
if shop-keepers knew that one of these birds had performed a hundred miles,
they would not give you more than sixpence or ninepence for it at most. I cannot
help thinking but it is very disheartening to any one who keep these sagacious
birds ; if I wanted to breed a cunning or sharp bird, I would get the best sky
blue, with black bars across the flight, Dragon cock, and the best sky blue, with
black bars across the flight, hen Owl, by this means you would get beautiful
feathered sharp birds, if you get nothing else. It is possible you might have
obtained the white eye from the long-faced Beard; one thing I am certain of,
the Owl shews itself very prominent in these birds, although there are a wonderful
many mealy feathered birds called Antwerps, and some of them very pleasant
to look at. 1 believe they are only half-bred birds, whereas, the genuine, as I
would call it, right or wrong, blue or chequered Antwerp, that looks volumes
at you, is the bird that accomplishes the work.

+

85

To the YOUNG and INEXPERIENCED FANCIER,

I cannot do better in closing this Work, than taking out some remarks in a
letter, or letters, 1 have forwarded to my old schoolfellow, Mr. Henry Major,
Geelong, Australia.

My dear Harry,

&c. &c, You will be surprised when you come to read what I am about
to inform you; a short time prior to your leaving old England, that you loved,
and you know made a promise and vow to your better half, provided circumstances
would allow to come:back, and lay your weary head low in old England, who,
you said, “ You loved with all its faults ;” my prayer is, ‘‘ God speed the Plough,”

‘with regard to your return to old England. I can assure you I shall rejoice
to see you, and have another game at bagatelle, giving you, at the French game, -

two score, and the break as usual, although I have not played more than twice
or thrice since you left England, owing to my time being so fully occupied
with business, and what I am about to inform you. It is possible you can
recollect when we were sitting in the back parlour, I shewed you a paper, I had
headed it “‘ Wisdom,” and reasoned what I should gain or lose in the estimation
of Fanciers in general, if I attempted a. Work on Tame and Domesticated
Pigeons; if you recollect the conclusion we came to, was, that I had every

thing to lose and nothing to gain, therefore came to the determination to abandon

the idea for ever, especially as I could not obtain my text, (Joun Moors’s
Work, 1735); although it cost me many pounds one way and the other, to
obtain the book, besides the great loss of time, for I searched every Bookseller
North, East, South and West, besides advertising it several times through the
different channels. Had I not seen and read the Work, I should not have
believed there was such a Work. The Fancier to whom the Work belonged,
used to say it was the only copy in the World; he promised me more than a year,
he would lend it to me, (if he had, I made up my mind to have employed some
one to have written it out before I returned it), but that he had lent it to a
Fancier, and could not get it back.

Some time after you had sailed, 3rd of September, for Geelong, having two
gentlemen to wait upon in town with the difference of about an hour and a half
as to time; knowing by the time I arrived home, it would be time to start off
again to wait upon the other; under these circumstances I thought I might as well
loiter about as to work hard for nothing ; being in a bookselling neighbourhood, the
idea struck me I would try if possible to obtain Moore’s work, by passing away the
time, believing the booksellers with their immense old stock of books, and not
having a methodical catalogue of their old books, and being busy at times, when
a question is put to them without considering answer, No! I reasoned further, it is
possible booksellers may not have a work to-day, but who knows to the contrary

~ but they may have it to-morrow. I was determined to make good use of this one

hour and a half surplus time on my hands, went into many bookshops, the answer

I réceived was No! No! No! You must Huntit up! I thought I had hunted it.

up, and the more I hunted it up as the booksellers called it, the further I was off
the scent, for I believe I had applied at one thousand different places to obtain it,
although it is possible you may say there is not one thousand booksellers near or

about London. I know my labour in endeavouring to obtain this book, better

than any one else can tell me; if you doubt what I say, try to obtain it,

Seeing two boys in deep conversation at an extensive second-hand or old book
shop, I believe if I had asked one of them if he had Moors on Pigeons, he would
have said, No! (but I had my wits about me for the first and last time), I arrested
both their attentions, by stating, I would stand a glass or a shilling’s worth of brandy
and water if he had got the book I wanted, and told the boy to consider before he

86

said, No! the two boys looked at each other, for I took them by surprise, “ I think
they smelled the brandy and water ;” after a little consideration one of.the boys
went down a tremendous long shop (much longer than a short street) to his em-
ployer, who was at the back of the premises, who went and laid his hand upon a
‘book ; I saw the boy coming in the distance with a book in his hand, 1 thought it
very likely it was something about Pigeons, but never thought it was Moorr’s
work ; to my astonishment and delight it was the identical work I was in search of,
having it in my hands, I thought my eyes would have darted out of the sockets of
my head when I beheld the book, I moreover thought, “‘ I'll be blessed if ever this
book leaves my hands, whatever the price.” I paid the price, the boy had his
shilling for brandy and water, and no doubt all pleased with the transaction.
Having yet time to the good, I went into a house, (called for a sandwich, and that
which you never did like, a glass of bitter ale), and read the work through .as far
asregards Pigeons.

“ Afterwards I began to think upon the work, and recollecting that it contained
so much matter that I had read before in other works, [ was determined to see
what amount of original matter belonged to each writer upon Pigeons, I, therefore,
took Moore’s 1785, then Mayor, 1765, and compared them as I read, interlined
Mayor’s work, what I found in Moors, that which was not interlined, I considered
original matter, I adopted this plan with all the works that was in my possession,
and I am not aware that there are any that I am not possessed of that is worth
having ; at all events, I never hear talk ofany ; and having Joun Boys, Esq.’s beau~
_ tiful Observations and Reflections, derived from fifty years experience, the

idea struck me of what use I would make of them, entertaining so high an opinion
of the late Jogn Mcore’s Work, and as I heard there was not another copy, and
believing there could not be more than two or three copies in the world, I thought
it a pity so valuable a work from which all others have grown out, should be lost
for ever to the Pigeon Fancier, (for ought you and I know the book may have
been stole from the gentleman to whom it was lent, and no wonder the Fancier
could not get it back again, and that I purchased the work ; 1 think if it was so, it
is excusable, considering the use I intend making of the book). I thought I would
publish the work entire, and give the original matter due to other authors, besides
endeavouring to make a few remarks from observations, and as the ideas struck
me, when my Almond Tumbler was printed, I regretted that I had not numbered
the paragraphs, but it was too late then. I borrowed the idea from Coxssurt’s
grammar to soldiers, sailors, and plough-boys, to paragraph this work. It will rather
surprise you to see me state grammar, for you know, that I know as much about
grammar as grammar knows about me, notwithstanding what my excellent father
paid for my education. .

When I brought out my Almond Tumbler, and read the manuscript over to
you and Wo.stEnHoLmE, only two original ideas was added to the manuscript, the
one, the villanous trick of breaking the upper mandible of the beak, when the
bird is a few days old, so as to form a straight or up beak. But will these birds
breed beaks like them ?—Query. The other was the late Str Joun Szgricut’s
| remark, that he would breed feather in three years, but would take six years to
breed head and beak; this was due to Mr. Woistennorme. Your labour was
different, although you could not give me a single idea, that. of transposing, you
know. some stated WoxtstenHonme was the Author. Some little time back, a
gentleman in the coffee-room, at Tuompson’s, the Fox Tavern, Islington Green,
put’ the question to me in a loud and audible voice, whether Mr......
did not assist me in the writing of my Almond Tumbler. I can assure

ou it awoke me up, and I thought, who next? I assured the gentleman
(for he is a gentleman) that I did not know a Fancier of that name;
but I think I know the Fancier to whom he alluded, who has only four letters in
- in his name, instead of five .... When I heard this I thought, what next!
and came to the determination that this Work should go forth with all its faults—
no doubt, which are many—without its being read over to any ong, rather than be

87

nettled and stung by a few pismires. There may be good attending this, if these
few will exercise their grammatical knowledge (or the want of it) ; then again, if they
cast them up, it will improve them in their arithmetic. Should it require trans-
posing, which it will no doubt, they can do with it as the cat does with the kitten—
endeavour to lick it into liking. Why I should have taken notice of these few,
that resembles the dog in the manger, that would not make an attempt to write
themselves (to instruct the young and inexperienced Fancier), found fault with me

for attempting ; besides stating they did not believe I had the ability to write my »

Almond Tumbler. Will these few believe now what they read, and exercise
their abilities upon it, or will they attempt, after my weary head is laid low, in
a cowardly lying way, lay claim~to the Work, on Tame and Domesticated
Pigeons, as being the Author, or having aided or assisted me in any way. Let
them come forward in my life-time, not after I am dead, that I may be able to
prove to the contrary ; but enough of this.

Just as I am beginning to wax warm, and getting my pen in order—besides

feeling myself as pleased, not as a Tom Tit upon a round: of beef, but as a
Titty-mouse with a hemp seed—the Printer sent me some sheets to read over, I
was somewhat surprised when my eye caught the high figure of the Page (80),
and that it was time to bring the Work to a close; calling upon the Printer to

know why they were so long over it, they said it was heavy work and that there _

was three Compositors upon it, this tickled my Vanity, that in my leisure time [
could write as fast as three Compositors could set up; which only proves that I
had not much time to read over what I had put upon paper, although I
stated, ‘Just as I was beginning to wax warm,” &c.; at the same time I can

assure you I have not altogether experienced it a joke, on at®ount of the

unreasonable hours that I have devoted to it for the last month, not seeing my
bed, except one day in the week, until two, three, four, and five o’clock in the
morning. It has brought me very shaky, and having experienced, eighteen years
back, a netvous irritability, I can assure you I am not desirous of experiencing
another. Should I ever attempt another Work, which I do not know but I shall,
I will endeavour not to be so foolish over it, and devote such unreasonable hours ;
you have often heard me say that seven days in the week was too long for me,
and that in the hot weather I made fourteen days and fourteen nights, viz. by
laying down on my bed for one hour after I had had my dinner ; for there are two
things I like to do, either to be asleep or awake; and if I dare trust my heart, I
think I have an active mind, that must be engaged in something. It was better
that it should be engaged ina Work like this, than in something worse, considering
Moore’s Original Work, from which all others have sprung out, was nearly
for ever lost to the Gentlemen of the Fancy.

Under these circumstances, the idea struck me, that I would endeavour to
contribute my mite in rescuing the Work from the hands of rude Old Time, and
hand it down for some years yet to come to my Brother Fanciers, believing no
other Fancier had the intention. I am fully as sensible as you are, that when
you come to read the Work over, you will discover inelegancies of ideas. I
believe, had you been in England, [ should have read the Work over to you,
you knowing it would not do to dub you as the Author. But then, the Unmerciful
Pruning Knife! that you are so fond of. You will have ample opportunity to
exercise it in Australia, which you will not. here, upon my Work. I am aware if
it was possible, if I had time to read it over myself, I could transpose and improve
it, but I have my work to do to keep a-head of the Compositors. The style
in which I should have liked best to have brought it out, provided I had the
abilities to imitate, was Dr. Franxrin’s ‘‘ Poor Richard,” more than the powerful
and accomplished reasoner Locxe ‘On the Understanding ;” as I cannot imitate
either, I was compelled to make the best of my own Originality. Those knowing
me and my ways, would say, “ This is Earon All Over!” as many Gentlemen said
who knew me, after reading my Almond Tumbler. To return to the Pruning Knife :
you would have had “ A Go-in! here,” provided I would have let you. It is

possible you can recollect, although we agreed to differ, we did not always agree in
reading the Almond Tumbler over, owing to my obstinacy, which got your monkey
and carbonic acid gas up, and although I never said so to you, I often said within
- myself (Harry don’t “ frown !’””) it is hard when a man gets his monkey up, at the
same time to look exceedingly pleasant ; excuse me here while I pour myself out a
glass of wine, to drink your health, wishing you a very large measure of good luck. .
I mentioned to you that you would discover inelegancies, more than that, “ rude
ideas ;”’ I was driven to that, to keep as near to my original ways, otherwise those
that know my ways, would not have believed the animal wrote it. I am aware
that it is not written after the style that Mayor in his frontispiece has, which is
taken from Baxer’s Natural History. Curiosity and a fondness fo. novelty are
implanted by Providence in the mind of man, to make him observe and examine
things attentively; distinguish their, various productions, form, and structure; and
admire their beauties, properties, and use. Whilst he is doing this, he is improv-
ing his judgment, performing his duty and making himself happy.
It is my intention of concluding this Work, on Tame and Domesticated Pigeons,

nearly with the same words I did my Almond Tumbler, p. 49, in the two
last Paragraphs, which idea you was pleased with. |

“There is a time for all things,” as the wise man observed; and the time
has now arrived for us to part; but in bidding you “good bye” for the present,
(as itis not my intention of taking my farewell of you, as I did in the same
paragraph of the Almond Tumbler, and then appearing so soon again before you
on Tame and Domesticated Pigeons), allow me, my young Fanciers, to suggest.—
Has the perusal of the foregoing pages been the means of making you a more
ardent admirer of Fancy Pigeons? do you see fresh beauties while studying the
properties of these admired birds? and, do you feel a determination to excelin this
pleasing and intellectual study? If this is the effect it has produced on your mind,
I shall consider myself fortunate in producing such a result; and I do most
sincerely hope that you may experience as much pleasure and satisfaction as I
have myself enjoyed. :

Hoping that you may long enjoy this pleasure and the intercourse of intelligent
and agreeable brother Fanciers, and that you may be able to exclaim, “ Happy
is the man that forsakes his vices, and becomes an enthusiastic admirer of the
better sort of Fancy Pigeons,” is the sincere wish of

JOHN M. EATON,

Toe AUTHOR.

FINIS,

DEDICATED TO THE YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FANCIER
OF THE ALMOND TUMBLER.

A

TREATISE

“ON THE ART OF

BREEDING AND MANAGING

THE

ALMOND TUMBLER.

BY

JOHN MATTHEWS EATON

} “ All that a Man knows, or ever will know,
is by Observation or Reflection.”
} i LOockE.

oi

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,
7, ISLINGTON GREEN, LONDON.

‘1851.

TO THE
YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FANCIER

OF THE

ALMOND TUMBLER.

The study and science of the Almond Tumbler is productive of a great amount
of pleasure, and in the present day there are many gentlemen of highly cultivated
minds, have proved by their engagement in the breeding and rearing, sparing
neither pains or expense, have fostered and cultivated, with the utmost care, this
truly beautiful pigeon called the Almond Tumbler. That it is a science well
worthy the attention of those who might be induced to engage in this delightful
recreation or fancy.

My object in publishing this Treatise on the breeding and rearing the Almond
Tumbler, is to place it in the hands of the young Fancier, who is desirous of cultivating
a knowledge, and endeavouring still further to improve their beauties; at the
same time, I am fully sensible that there is not a copy of a work, worthy to be
placed in the hands of the young Fancier, can be obtained without the utmost
difficulty, owing to their being out of print. At one time I should have hesitated
at the thought of writing upon so difficult a subject, for it requires a very nice
‘judgment to form a true estimate of the Almond Tumbler; and, it must be con-
fessed, they labour under the greatest disadvantage in not having their perfections
and properties properly understood by the gentlemen of the Pigeon Fancy in general.
Being fully aware of the great disadvantages that some of the young Fanciers
residing in some parts of the country labour under, not having the advantages of
attending societies and seeing and examining the birds that are put into the
penns on show days, and joining in cheerful conversation with experienced Fanciers,
who are both able and willing to instruct, by pointing out what are good
properties and what are bad in a bird; under these circumstances this treatise
will not be unacceptable to the young Fancier, provided he has made up his mind
to be a Fancier and rank A.1.; he must carefully read, mark, learn, and inwardly
digest what is written in this treatise, to guide his judgment, for as there is
no royal road to learning, so there is no possibility of gaining a thorough knowledge
of the Almond Tumbler but from long study and experience.

I shall here endeavour to rivet, as it were, on the minds of those who will
engage in this delightful study, some great facts; the first thing especially to be
attended to, is the selection of really good birds—they should be young, healthy,
vigorous, and bred from as pure and good astud or strain as can be obtained. From
the highly artificial state of the Almond Tumbler in the present day, there is a
tendency to degenerate, or throw back, as it is termed in the Fancy. For even
when good birds are put together, they do not invariably throw birds equal to
those they are bred from; but if inferior birds are matched together, the produce

must necessarily be unworthy the attention of a Fancier. Nonpareils will not |

always produce nonpareils, but nonpareils cannot be expected from inferior birds, |

Much attention and great care are necessary with these birds to insure success ;
especially if the young Fancier raises a standard in his mind to surpass those who
have tried before him, and has made up his mind not to rank second best ; but
the satisfaction of producing the best bird must be very great, and will an

“7a : Ne

There are many gentlemen now engaged in breeding and rearing the Almond
Tumbler, and the amateur has an opportunity of obtaining superior birds to
commence with, ana which is so indispensable to insure success. ‘This he may do,
by following the remarks made in this treatise, and the information he may obtain

——

repay him for all the care and labour that has been expended. os Sia earth.

iv.

among his brother Fanciers. The value of the birds, as usual with matters of
taste, will depend much on the estimated qualities of the birds; and if they should
be of extraordinary beauty and excellence in the five properties, the price will be
proportionably high, as there are many gentlemen in the fancy who know how
to appreciate a good bird, and do not hesitate to give a good price for it; there-
fore, you must not expect to obtain a bird for five pounds, that other fanciers
would give ten pounds for.

I have now arrived at a difficult point, and that is how to instil the knowledge
of a bird possessing good properties into the mind of the young Fancier when he
sees it, and should he be anxious to purchase the bird, I should advise him to
consider whether he really stands in need of the bird, and believes it will improve
his stud or strain of birds, if so, buy it at any price, for it cannot be dear. From
my experience, combined with the conversation of some of the best and most
experienced Fanciers, the only way to obtain an extraordinary bird, is to give
more than it is worth, comparatively speaking, The first time I attended a Grand
Show, there was, as I thought, such a particularly pretty neat looking pair of
birds, nothing gaudy about them; they appeared so remarkably neat and quiet,
that the thought struck me of Friends or Quakers; I became anxious to obtain
this pair of birds, and seeing the gentleman to whom the birds belonged, I
politely asked him if he considered it a fair question whether he would part with
them, and he as politely, said he would as he was desirous of bringing as many
gentlemen into the fancy as possible, and would favor me being a young and
inexperienced Fancier, and the price would be five pounds; he greatly astonished
me when he uttered “five pounds,”’ for if he had said five shillings, I think at that
time I should have had spirit enough in me to have offered four shillings and
sixpence; but since then, I have had the honor of that gentleman’s acquaintance,
have been repeatedly in his aviary, and seen the pair of birds I am writing of,
and after having acquired some knowledge of the Almond Tumbler, my experience
has taught me that the birds were worth more money than he had asked; for, in
fact, they were a pair of extremely short faced and beautiful Golden Duns, bred
' from a splendid pair of Almonds, but I was at the time too inexperienced to know it ;
and here I would particularly caution the young Fancier, on entering the societies
where the shows take place, not to give offence to any of its members, by asking what
do you want for that bird? you would be treated with contempt and not get an
answer, for you might as well ask some gentlemen to part with half their fortunes,
as a bird they highly estimate. But there are ways of doing things without
giving offence, and I think the best way to put the question to the owner of the
bird, is politely to ask him, whether he considers it a fair question, if he would
part with the bird, and then you will receive a polite answer.

The best and cheapest bird I ever bought cost me five pounds, why I say the
cheapest, is, because I bred twelve young ones from him, and all good birds. I
have given more, and know some gentlemen that have given still higher prices
than myself, and I saw a few evenings since, at one of the societies, a Pigeon, the
gentleman to whom it belonged, stated he would not take twenty pounds
for it. But to return to the young Fancier, I would advise him to purchase
good birds, and, if he is acquainted with experienced Fanciers, to solicit their
assistance in obtaining birds that will be serviceable to him ; if, on the other hand,
he would rather trust to his own judgment, all I can say, is, I wish him luck,
for it will prove a lottery, as the most experienced Fanciers have acquired their
knowledge with care, trouble, and expense; neither can the young and inex-
perienced expect to escape unscathed, till time and experience shall improve his
eye, and mature his judgment.

This bird is ealledthe “Almond Tumbler” by the gentlemen of the Fancy ; in my
researches I have traced it back to the year 1735, and as the gentlemen of the
Fancy have assigned this name to this truly beautiful bird, after a mature con-
sideration I think it would be injudicious to alter it, for if a meeting of all the

Vv.

Almond Tumbler Fanciers was called together, I very much question whether any
one of them could assign a better name. For what is it that we Fanciers allow
to constitute the Almond Tumbler, the three colors, black, white, and yellow,
variously and richly interspersed ; but the greatest difficulty, amounting almost to
an impossibility, is to obtain a rich bright yellow, nevertheless the ardent and
indefatigable young Fancier should strive to reach the standard, authorized by
the gentlemen of the Fancy, namely black, white and yellow, and in his efforts
to obtain yellow will produce a rich almond colour usually called the ground, and
from which the bird derives its name. ‘There are three colors in the bird, and it
would be folly to find a new name for it, as the oldest and best informed Fanciers
are of opinion that a better name could not be found, and shows the good sense of
the Fanciers centuries ago. I sinccrely hope the name of the bird will for ever be
set at rest, as it is known by the name in every clime where the English tongue
is spoken, as the “ Almond Tumbler.” It will not be my fault, should the old
and experienced Fancier happen to make a mistake, and sit in judgment upon
this Work, or become severely critical, for comparatively speaking, I am but a
young Fancier, my object is a pure one in publishing this treatise, that it may find
its way into the hands of the young and inexperienced; the idea struck me that
I might give him my experience, from actual observation and reflection; but
for a better and more experienced Fancier than myself, to suppose for one
moment, that I had the audacity to endeavour to instruct him, “is his mistake—
not mine,” as I sincerely hope that I am entirely free from such intention.

But a person not acquainted with the beauties of this study or science, should not
take upon himself the character of judge, and condemn a study or science of which
he is utterly ignorant ; should he make his remarks freely, they would most probably
be characterised by a gross want of information, and only meet with that contempt
which they deserved. I am fully aware there are gentlemen who cannot see any
beauty in Pigeons, except in a pie, “these are Belly Fanciers ”; and, although
very numerous, with these I shall have nothing to do.

That it is an innocent amusement and recreation, well adapted to the pro-
fessional gentlemen of law, physic, and divinity, or any other person engaged in
long continued and excessive exertion of the intellectual faculties. The relief
this delightful recreation gives is truly astonishing, by unbending the mind after
close and intent application to abstruse subjects; for the mind of man is incapable
of constant application either to study or business, and it is therefore highly
necessary to relieve it. I am of opinion that many of the brightest luminaries that
have suddenly been lost to society, would not have been so, had they been engaged
in this Fancy, by way of recreation or relief to the mind. I have known some
very old gentlemen in the Fancy, but never yet knew a Fancier that was troubled
with hippochondriasis.

There is nothing so base as ingratitude, and J cannot allow it to pass over without
calling upon the young Fanciers to join me in acknowledging the debt of gratitude
we owe to the old and experienced Fanciers of past ages, for handing down to us
young Fanciers such a beautiful strain of birds to commence with ; for when we

reflect for a moment, that these beautiful birds were: originally produced from the ,
common Pigeon, and when you consider that at one time the beak should not |
exceed seven-eighths of an inch, (meaning the distance from the iris, or circle
round the pupil of the eye, to the end of the quick on the beak.) Now if the beak |
was limited to seven-eighths of an inch, which I presume was considered short ©

at that time, what is the length it might not have run out to! and this is another
proof of the debt of gratitude we owe, as I said before, to the old and experienced
Fanciers, and in a most especial manner to the gentlemen of the Columbarian
Society, who have had so great a share for the last hundred years in bringing the
Almond Tumbler to the standard it has now arrived at. And now, my young
Fancier, with these great advantages on your side at your commencement, I hope

and trust by your spirit, attention, and perseverance, you, will still more contribute

Vie

to increase its beauties and perfections. I will endeavour to stimulate and cheer
you on, by informing you that the most experienced and accomplished Fancier
that ever lived at one time, knew no more about the Almond Tumbler than the
Almond Tumbler knew about him, or the little knowledge you are in possession
of, provided you know any thing of the Almond Tumbler; and here I will tell you
another great fact, and that is, that,the field is still as open for fresh competitors
now, as it was one hundred years ago. I am fully sensible that there are among the
\ \ Fanciers, gentlemen infinitely more able in every sense of the word, being more
, experienced and having more leisure time, therefore could have produced a better
Treatise on the subject of the Almond Tumbler than I shall be able to do, but,
from some cause or other they have not thought fit so todo; at the same time I
must keep in view the expence of the Work, so that it shall not be beyond the
reach of the humble Fancier. Prudence has dictated to me to address my work
to the young and inexperienced, being fully sensible that I was incompetent to
offer remarks to the old and experienced Fancier; but, I believe, that the young
Fancier may, with advantage to himself, digest every remark in this Treatise.

There is another consideration that has flashed across my mind, to accelerate
my work, so as to be able to bring it out by the first of May, when all the people
in the world, comparatively speaking, are striving to produce something that will
be acceptable to those who take an interest in those subjects that come nearest and
dearest to their hearts; and as I have not heard of any Fancier’s intention to
produce a similar Treatise at the time of the Great Exhibition, when “all the
World will be our country, and doing good our Religion,” I was determined to
offer my mite on such an auspicious occasion. When we consider the deep
interest that the most illustrious Prince and Consort of the best Sovereign that
ever graced the British Throne, takes in the Exhibition, surely it would be
unpardonable in us Fanciers to let the present opportunity pass away, without
endeavouring to throw in our mite or offering, It is well known that there are
beautiful Pigeons at the Aviaries at Windsor, and I have heard it stated that
Napoleon was a Pigeon Fancier. However, it is one thing to have Pigeons, but

uite another thing to understand them. ‘If it was possible for noblemen and
{ gentlemen to know the amazing amount of solace and pleasure derived from the
Almond Tumbler, when they begin to understand their properties, I should think
that scarce any nobleman or gentleman would be without their aviaries of Almond
Tumblers, and which would form a splendid ornament in their beautiful gardens
\ Lor grounds. Having wandered a little, I will return again to my more immediate

subject; it is with Fanciers as with others, that they do not exactly think alike
upon some of the points or properties ; all that is wanted is honesty. If those great
and eminent ministers, Whitfield and Wesley, after a college education could not
exactly agree upon the same text, is it surprising that you and I should not exactly
agree upon the remarks we may make from our experience derived solely from
actual observations, taking the Almond Tumbler as our text; but one thing is
certain, provided we are Fanciers in the true acceptance of the word, we must go
hand in hand upon the five properties, allowing each of us to choose our favorite
point of property ; for which of the five properties could we part with in producing
a good bird—it is absolutely necessary to have the five properties to constitute a
really good bird.

That the Almond Tumbler may be improved beyond what it has hitherto been,
~—that new beauties may be discovered, and a higher standard taken as the beau
ideal of each amateur,—and that it may as far exceed the present standard, as that
which is now looked up to does that of half a century back,

Is the sincere and hearty wish of a brother Fancier,
Who has devoted time, care, and attention to the subject,

7, Istincron Green, JOHN MATTHEWS EATON.

Lownpvon.
May 1st, 1851.

bag
i
\{

A
TREATISE

BREEDING AND MANAGING

THE

ALMOND TUMBLER.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD.
FEATHER.

Imagine to yourself, taking into your aviary or loft some inexperienced friends
who have expressed a great desire to see some Almond Tumblers, what would be
the first thing that would attract their attention, Feather would strike some—
Shape or Carriage would rivet the attention of others ; but if, on the contrary, you
took experienced Fanciers into your aviaries or lofts, and asked them which they
considered the grandest property of the five, my impression is that they would say,
Shape or Carriage ; nevertheless, it is my intention in giving a description of the
five properties to take Feather first; not that I consider feather the grandest
property of the five, but from the bird deriving ‘its name from the feather, and
from the rich and variegated colours striking the eye of the general observer.

It is the decided opinion of all Fanciers, that the ground or foundation of the
feather should be, strictly speaking, a rich bright yellow, but the difficulty to
obtain it, and intermix, split or break the yellow feather with a decided black, I
think is scarcely attainable: a fact, that has been established by many careful and
oft repeated experiments by the most able Fanciers that have ever lived; we must,
therefore, be content with having the ground of the bird a rich bright almond
colour, but the inside of the shell of the almond nut is the best colour, and the oldest
Fanciers are unanimous in opinion that this beautiful and very valuable species
derived its name— Almond,” because the ground of the bird is, or should be, a
rich bright almond colour.

The standard authorised or laid down by the Columbarian Society, as regards the
Feather, is as follows, three colours, namely, black, white, and yellow, in the nine
first feathers of each wing, counting from their extremities, and twelve in the tail ;
the aforesaid three colours well developed would constitute a standard, but the
back, breast, and rump, should be likewise variegated to be complete in feather ;
the hackle or neck feathers should be bright and well broken with the same colours,
and should resemble the delicate touches of the pencil of a fine artist.

There are gentlemen in the Fancy who have asserted, that they have had some
so truly beautiful and spangled, that have had few feathers in them but what have
contained the three colours that constitute the Almond—black, white, and yellow,
variously and richly intermixed; and that after breeding them a considerable
time, rejecting those that ran from feather, and judiciously matching the good

feathered ones together, have brought them to such great perfection, that they

should have been surprised to have pred any others than Almonds. There are

some so magnificently elegant in feather that their flight, tail, back and rump,

have resembled a bed of the finest and best broken tulips that can be imagined, or
a piece of the best and most highly polished tortoiseshell, for the more they are
variegated, particularly in the flight and tail, provided the ground be yellow or a

8

rich bright Almond, through hackle, shoulder, and rump, the whole to be equally
spangled and broken with black and white, the more they are esteemed; but the
yellow is a colour most difficult to attain.

SHAPE OR CARRIAGE.

The Almond Tumbler ought to be a very small Pigeon, and the more diminutive
the better, provided it maintains its other noble properties boldly, and, which is
essential to constitute a good bird, for the more snug and compact, the more they
are appreciated, and the more the value of the bird is enhanced. It should be
very short in the back, and the lower it stands the better, with small round body,
but particularly with a fine prominent full and extremely broad, or, as the Fanciers
term it, a square chest, the lower the neck the better, and should be Shorter than
any other Pigeon, with a particularly thin or slim neck, and beautifully curved
under the throat and thrown back, the shorter the flight and tail feathers the better.

It is my opinion that shape or carriage is the grandest property in the Almond
Tumbler, and would be one of the best criterions to judge of a bird coming from
a good stud, for as I observed before, there is a tendency in the Almond Tumbler
to degenerate or throw back in some of their properties, notwithstanding being
bred ont of the very best strain of birds ; for on examining an Almond Tumbler,
should some of its properties run out as expressed by Fanciers, yet the bird still

- maintaining shape and carriage, are evident proofs of its coming from a first-rate
_ stud of birds.

The shape or carriage of most things living is the most beautiful property, save the

mind, and to my fancy I am not aware that there is anything under the Sun, or

that you can imagine or conceive, that is so truly beautiful and elegant in its
proportion or symmetry of style, as the shape or carriage of the Almond .Tumbler
approaching perfection, in this property, (save lovely woman) and has been most
happily selected as the emblem of beauty, tenderness and affection, and is depicted

as the appropriate attendant of Venus.

HEAD.

The head should be as broad as possible, and not only broad, but as high and
lofty as possible, and not only broad and lofty, but at the same time should be as
round as possible, like a marble. It should havea good dig, chop, or stop, or
any other technical term that the Fanciers understand and are pleased to call it.
The front of the head should appear as it were overhanging a portion of the beak,
at that beautiful part of the bird, which in the estimation of the best Fanciers is
not excelled by any. I allude to that grand point, the stop, in front of the head,
or more properly speaking, under the head; the feathers forming the front of
the head should make a dead stop, and above all things not run in a slanting
direction into the wattle on the beak, which is a defect, and is called a needle point.
Looking at the head in front, should it happen to present an angular or slanting
direction towards you, it is called by the gentlemen of the Fancy thin-faced or
mousey ; it is one of the greatest imperfections that a bird can possibly have, and
is the very opposite of a round head and quick stop. ‘There are but few birds
comparatively speaking that have these beautiful dead and decided stops, and still
further to add to the beauty and finish of the head, the feathers under the eye
and about the lower jaw sbould be full and a little curved upwards, which is called
“muffy.”” Fora broad lofty round headed bird with a good stop, is in a fair way to
be considered a wonder, and more particularly so by the head and beak Fanciers,
who constitute at least three-fourths of the Almond Tumbler Fanciers. To produce
a bird as above described, some of the gentlemen of the fancy have said it has
been the work of a season, and have considered themselves amply rewarded.

But there are other gentlemen in the Fancy, who have asserted that head and
beak is to be produced at any time, “ Any time ” is rather hard to define, but, if

9

they mean the longest time, then they are right, but on the contrary, if they mean
the shortest time, then they are decidedly wrong ; nothing is easier than to assert
a thing, but they would experience the difficulty, if they attempted to produce
head and beak. ;

years, but it would take him six years to obtain head and beak.

BEAK,

properly speaking, to the end of the quick on the beak. I repeat again, if it was
possible to have them so short faced, as itis termed by Fanciers. Itis possible for a
bird to be considered a pleasant or neat bird, even at three quarters of an inch,
but exceeding that length must be looked upon as unworthy of attention. The
beak should run in a straight line from the head, be extremely fine and pointed; I
have some in my aviaries that have astonished me, nor could I have believed it

‘but there are beaks on birds apparently short, that has no more style in them than
your thumb nails.‘* There are many of the first-rate Fanciers, who are particularly
‘(partial to what is called the goldfinch beak, which is very beautiful; others say,
(take a full size round cherry, then také‘a barley corn, and judiciously placing and
thrusting it into the cherry, form as it were your beak, and that is not all, for it
will form a good head and beak, provided, as I said before, it is judiciously done ;

'\ him for his observation.

e wart or wattle on the beak should be very fine and as little of it as possible,
resembling as it were a thread drawn across the beak, and where this fineness of
wattle can be obtained it adds greatly to the beauty of the bird, and a sure mark
of its being well bred, besides giving the appearance of a more decided stop.

THE EYE.

The brighter and more prominent the better, like the eye of a fish,
(take for example the bright eyed Perch,) and it is the general opinion
among the Fanciers, that the eye should be fixed in the centre of the
head. I will here endeavour to show you what would apparently give the
appearance of a loftier, broader, and less “behind the head,”’—suppose, for
argument sake, that the head was an inch perfectly round, divide the
one inch into sixteen equal parts, and if you place the eye one sixteenth more or
less below the centre of the head, the more lofty headed the Almond ‘Tumbler
will appear, or the reverse ; and the same holds good if the eye is placed back in
the head, giving the head a broader appearance in front, and less “ behind the
head,” which is opposite to what is called ‘‘duck-necked,” by the Fanciers; but
\ the effect is still greater where the beak is found placed low on a round headed
iN Almond Tumbler, for it gives that truly beautiful and striking stop, which is not

eclipsed by any other portion of the bird, and which is held in such high esti-
mation by the best Fanciers.

The eye should be free from a thick skin or flesh around it, which to Fanciers
is a great defect, a beading may look very pretty on a miniature frame, but is
the very reverse to the eye of the Almond Tumbler; the eye should be feathered
close to the edge and the more bright and silvery or pearl coloured the iris of the
eye is the better,

For, Str Joun Sesricut said he would produce any given feather in three © :

The beak of a first-rate Almond Tumbler ought not to exceed five-eighths of
an inch, and it would be infinitely better, if it was possible, to breed them that —
they did not exceed half an inch, from the iris of the eye to the point, or more |

possible that the beaks could have been so fine, had I not have witnessed it myself; _

others take an oat, but as I think the goldfinch beak the handsomest, I would = /
advise the inexperienced Fancier to get the head of a goldfinch and keep it by |

estes

ieee epee eer aana

ME Stereos

10

THE HEN.

The Hen is inferior to the Cock in some of the properties and superior in others,
which I shall endeavour to shew; and it is with the Almond Tumbler as with most
other birds, that the male is more impudent and audacious, coarser in his looks,
beak, and wattle, the Hen is more delicate, finer in her beak and wattle, and
though generally a more spare appearance, comes very little short in shape or
carriage. She is smaller than the cock, which is an advantage. The cock and
hen are equal as regards the eye; that is to sav, the eye of the male is not more
wicked than the females; but with regard to feather, the cock has a deal more
ground, more break or variegation in his flight and tail feathers ; although there are
hens equal in feather to the cocks, they are very few, they are the exception
to the rule. Should it so happen that two birds possessing the five properties,
namely, head, beak, eye, carriage, and feather, equally alike, I have no hesitation
in saying that the hen is worth double the money of the cock. There are hens in
feather that come up to the standard of the cock, but, as I observed before, they
are the exception, and not the rule, being very scarce and not quite so brilliant
in feather.

MATCHING OR PAIRING.

There are several things here to take into consideration ; the first would be, how
many pairs of birds you intend to match up? What is the temperature of your
aviary or loft? How are you circumstanced for room? The reason why I ask
how many pairs you intend to match up is this, if you intend only matching a few
pairs, and have ample room for them, then match them by the beginning of March,
or should the place be warm, then the middle of February; but if you match up
forty pairs, as I have done, and require the birds to keep the penns you assign
them, then match up the first of February, as you will experience much trouble
and it will take considerable time before you can get the birds steady to the places
you have assigned them.

The first or second round of eggs, as it is termed by the Fanciers, seldom produce
anything, owing to their being thin-shelled, soft or lush eggs. Should they break
or destroy their eggs, it is necessary either to give them addled or bone eggs, made
on purpose, and make them set their time, if possible, and then it is absolutely
necessary to give them a young one to feed off their soft food, which they will
generally do in a week or ten days; there is a great difference in their feeding,
some feed well, whilst others, comparatively speaking, will not feed at all. I said
it was absolutely necessary to make them set their time and feed off their soft
food, otherwise they will only lay soft shelled eggs, and that so frequently through

the breeding season, that you will ruin the constitution of the hens for ever.

On the knowledge you possess of matching and shifting will depend your success
as an Almond Fancier; these are the two grand serrets or great facts—the first,
to produce it; the second, to raise. It is needless for me to tell you, that you
must first breed a good bird before you attempt to raise it, consequently I shall
endeavour here to assist you, how to breed a good bird. ‘I stated in a former
part of this work, that you have no right to expect a Wonder or Nonpareil from
inferior birds. Fanciers widely differ in their attempts to breed a good bird;
there-are some Fanciers that would sacrifice every other property ina bird to obtain
head and beak, by matching the two best head and beak birds in the aviary or loft,
while there are others, sacrificing the other properties to obtain feather, this is
the cause of our observing such good head and beak birds, but running from
feather; on the contrary, those Fanciers who sacrifice every thing for feather,
breed birds with beautiful feather, but they run out in head and beak. Fanciers,
in looking at good head and beak birds, will tolerate the bird and overlook feather ;
but if it was the best feather possible to obtain and ran out in the head, thin-faced

di

or mousey, the remark many of the Fanciers would make, as I have heard it
observed, they would give ten pounds provided the bird was as good in head and
_ beak as it was in feather.

There are some of the young Fanciers who are over covetous, who go for all the ‘\

five properties at once, they have their reward by getting nothing; others breed to

a feather, but they forget to say what feather. 1 will here mention a case to show
the uncertainty of breeding to a feather, as it is called; the best pair of Almonds— |
cock and hen, extra good in all properties, that I ever possessed, keeping themy)
matched together for three years, bred three beautiful almond cocks, two kite hens, |
yellow and red whole feather, yellow and red agates, all coming from the same |
pair of birds. Is this what they call breeding to feather? Now, if this pair of '
Almonds had bred all the young-ones as near alike for feather as they did head and
beak, then that would be nearer breeding to feather. I will give you another |
instance that occurred, I matched up a beautiful head and beak splash cock to a |
rich kite hen, and in the same nest or round, produced two young ones—the one ~
pure white, the other as black asa coal; I thought this breeding to feather with /
a vengeance. The inexperienced Fancier may say, that they did not come froma |
good stud of birds; when he knows more he will say less, for I question very
much whether he ever will be able to obtain such birds as I am writing of.

Counteraction is a grand thing to be observed, but this must have its limits; for
it would be unwise to match up a bad cock to an extra good hen, for if you split the
difference in their young, you make half-and-half of them; “ Half-and-half” may
be very good to a Fancier on a long dusty road and his throat parched with thirst,
when he comes up to a Pig and Whistle Shop, and can get nothing better, but’
half-and-half Almonds will not do for the Fancier, besides throwing away the use .
of the hen for the season. A gentleman, a member of the original Columbarian’
Society, to whom we owe so much, stated, that the best Almond supposed ever |
to have been bred. was bred from a white agate cock and kite hen; but we are not
to consider this surprising, for the agate cock and kite hen, for ought we know,
may have had the blood of the Almonds, in a direct line for the last hundred
years; and do not Fanciers, who say they cannot have too much of a good thing,
match up the most plum puddingy Almonds, as they call it, cock and hen; and
do they always throw Almonds? certainly not, but all colours in feather, such as
rich kites, duns, yellows, reds, whole feathers, and agates. These birds having
the blood of the Almonds, and coming from good feathered Almonds, as far as ,
you are able to ascertain; if you are acquainted with their pedigree, so much the |
better; these young birds, being judiciously matched, are as likely to throw
Almonds, as the Almonds themselves; and there are some of the best and most
experienced Fanciers express it as their opinion, that the amazing power of the
Almond Tumbler to throw all shades of colour—whole feather, agate, splash,
broken, or spangle, is one of the chief causes that keep Fanciers so long in the |
fancy; propels or induces the Almond Fancier to persevere, owing to the uncertainty —
of throwing the feather; for, as they observe, if it was reduced to a certainty, the
zest would be lost; and, as I observed before in another part of this work, that
the Almond Tumbler Fancy is as open now for fresh competitors, as it was a
century ago. There are Fanciers who condemn me, and say that I match up too
high for feather; be this as it may, I am one of those who think we cannot have
too much of a good thing, and may be rewarded like the man who reasoned,—
‘« That if a little physic was good, what must a great deal be?” why, do every
thing but what it was intended to do, The Fancier may draw his inference, that
I am a Head and Beak Fancier, and despise Feather, I am a great admirer of
Head and Beak, but am not insensible to Feather; for, as I observed before, which
of the five properties could we afford to lose? and is not feather a grand property ?

It unfortunately sometimes happens that on exhibiting a bird on a grand show

night among the Fanciers, that if the bird possesses four good properties out of the
five, namely :—head, beak, eye, and carriage, but should fall short in feather, a

12

“Feather Fancier” would remark the deficiency of feather, apparently overlooking
the four other properties; nevertheless do not lose your command of temper, but
do as I have done this season, provided the strength of your aviaries and lofts
will allow you to pick out of seventy pairs of birds as mine will, match up expressly
six pairs of the best feather, and most likely to throw feather, you will probably
be in a condition to challenge them to show for feather.

I will be very brief in touching on the delicate subject of exhibiting a bird as
their own, although borrowed from another, for my own part I would as soon
challenge all England to show a bird, as some, (very few I hope in the Fancy,) who
would make a bet to show a bird of their own breeding, and then borrow the
best bird they could procure for the occasion; I sincerely hope as I stated before
that this rarely occurs, but it has occured. If you fall in challenging all England,
you fall nobly, but if you are outwitted by a trick, you fall ignominiously. And
while I am treading on this delicate ground, in an especial manner I would call
upon the young Fancier that if ever you are placed in a position, not the most
pleasant in the science of the Almond ‘Tumbler, I allude to that of being appointed
one of the umpires, let honesty and integrity be as the breath of your soul, and if there
isno doubt on your mind that the two birds are equal, wash your hands as it were of
the responsibility, provided you are not already outvoted by calling in another
umpire or referee, and, above all things, err rather from want of judgment than de-
sign, for be assured the eyes of the Fancier would be upon your decision, and should
your decision be manifestly partial, you will bring down the detestation of the
whole Fancy upon you, and be stamped with infamy to the end of your days.

It might appear to you that I would almost write anything rather than grapple
with the subject of matching and pairing the birds, I thought it would not be
amiss to go into my aviaries to see how I had matched my birds, and found that
I had nearly matched them all manner of ways, with the exception of head and beak,
so that I cannot exactly recommend you to the matching from my own aviaries;
itis better to have ten pairs of good birds well-matched, than fifty pairs by
counteraction. Match up your aviary or loft of birds, commencing with your
best cock and hen, and going down till you come to birds that you do not approve
of, then discard them. I do not pretend to instruct you how to breed any given
feather in the Almond, for after all, feather is only one property out of five,
therefore, it is absolutely necessary to guard the other properties in producing an
extra bird. It is possible that you may have a cock, so undeniably good in all the
five properties, or particularly in feather, head and beak; and if it was possible
that you had a hundred hens, you might exclaim that you had not a hen good
enough, in head and beak to match over to him, and at last be driven to match
a kite hen, simply because they often run better in ‘the head and beak than the
Almonds. The kite hen has the advantage over the dun hen, by producing better
sound black. The dun hen will produce a more yellow and soft ground, and will
not produce such good black in flight, tail and spangle, but appear smokey or dunnish,
unless the cock is amazingly strong in feather. Good sound whole feather Almond
bred Hens,with their rumps extra covered, namely : kites, duns, reds, or yellows, give
asound foundation or ground, and by matching them over to an Almond or Splash
cock, you stand a great chance of breeding an Almond or Splash, and an Almond or
Splash hen may likewise be matched to whole-feather sound Almond bred cocks ;
but I think it is absolutely necessary that the black feather should be visible either
in the cock or hen. It is possible that two whole-feather Feather birds may throw
Almonds or Splashes, but I think it is dangerous to try it, unless you are destitute
of a bird, that would be more suitable, it is then better to buy a bird.

I cannot help thinking but that the ground of the Almond Tumbler, generally
speaking, has greatly improved in the last few years, being more yellow. I say
generally, for the gentlemen of the original Columbarian Society, always had good
feathered birds, but there were other Fanciers who had not: although it was
agreed that the feather should be black, white, and yellow; some appeared as

13

though the ground, flight, and tail feathers, were red, instead of yellow, and
the black an olive ; these are called too deep in colour, and may be called mahogany
birds; but then there is another description of birds, such as is called bred too
high for feather; it is easy to say to high for feather, and another thing, what you
mean by it, do you mean to say that too deep colour bred bird, and the too high
bred bird is the same thing? Certainly not; the effect shows itself when we

roduce a number of white or white agate young birds, that we certainly have
matched the birds too high for feather, and too much blood in them, as it is called ;
but if on the contrary, you should happen to breed an Almond, it is generally an
extra feathered bird. It cannot be reduced to a certainty how to breed for feather,
but if a Fancier is very desirous of breeding for feather, 1 do not know that he
could accomplish his object better than by matching an Almond cock, which is
bred very high for feather, black, white, and yellow, but the black particularly
good and strong, over to arich golden dun hen, bred from two Almonds; the
reason why I say that the black in the cock should be particularly good and strong,
is, that while the dun is proverbial in softening a hard feathered Almond cock, and
giving a beautiful and soft yellow or Almond ground, fails in producing the black.
Tam not aware of any match that is likely to throw better feather, provided as
I said before, that the black is good, but it almost amounts to an impossibility
to intermix a decided black with a rich bright yellow; there are many gentlemen
of the Fancy, who know what a good black is, but I am fearful have not paid that
attention to ascertain what is good yellow.

Now that I am writing on black and yellow, let us endeavour to illustrate or
define it, and I think you could not do better than thus: suppose a grand show
open to all England, to produce the best standard Almond Tumbler, and the two
gentlemen Fanciers appointed umpires in a room by themselves, the birds being
handed in for admissibility, the standard being black, white, and yellow, they have
agreed in passing two birds at first sight into the penn, which are to be examined
again prior to their being shown for the prize ; another bird is now handed in, which
ig a standard bird, but is objected to by one of the umpires, and the other asks
upon what grounds—the answer he received that it is not a jet or good black,
that it is a faint, smoky, bad black; then the other umpire insists upon good
yellow, and goes to the penn to examine the two birds that had passed to be
re-examined, and declares them disqualified for showing, the other umpire requires
the cause, and is answered that the ground of the bird, also the flight and tail
is nearer a red than a yellow, and as the one would not pass a faint black, neither
would the other pass a reddish bird for yellow.

To return to the matching of the rich Almond cock and golden dun hen, if
on the contrary, the same cock was matched over to a good kite hen, they would
throw in better black, at the same time producing more kites, it may ‘be Almond
and Kite in each nest. I think you will not be wrong even in matching up a
Spangled or good Splash cock to a sound bright whole-feather hen, Almond bred,
namely—duns, kites, reds, yellows, or even red and yellow mottled agate Almond
bred birds, and reversing it with the hens and cocks. Not knowing how to produce
a given feather myself, I experience the difficulty of instructing you, but I think
what I have stated are the best rules to lay down, and it will assist you if you
know how the birds have been bred; at the same time it is encouraging to the
young Fancier, that he may come into the Fancy and throw a bird for feather
from an agate cock and kite hen, with the most experienced Fancier, still, feather
is but one property out of five.

OF LAYING.

Much will depend on the state of the weather ; should it be mild or warm, the
hens will begin to lay in about a week after matching. I have very little opinion
of those eggs that come very soon after matching; on the contrary, 1 have
experienced greater success with the eggs that have come later. Make them a

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14

good nest of soft straw, well rubbed with the hand, for they seldom make a proper
one themselves. Barley straw is best for this purpose, but of whatever you make
it, let it be a good sound tight nest, for if it is loose and careless the eggs will get
under the straw, the birds lose them, forsake the nest, and the eggs are not
hatched, owing to a little carelessness. The hen mostly lays two eggs, missing
one day between the first and second; after having laid her first egg, which is
always between five and six o’clock in the afternoon, she and the cock alternately
stand over it, to protect it from the intrusion of other birds; the second is laid,
usually, at one o'clock, or soon after, on the third day, when they commence
incubation in the following manner :—the cock sits from between nine and ten in
the morning till four or five o’clock in the afternoon, when the hen sits till the
following morning, and so alternately till the seventeenth day from the laying the
last egg, when the incubation is complete, and the eggs will be chipped, and in
general hatched in the course of that day, if they hatch at all, and this regularity
and alternate relief is maintained during the feeding as well as the sitting.

T used, formerly, when the first egg was laid between five and six o’clock in the
afternoon to take it away and put it into a pill box, lined with wadding, to prevent
its breaking, and substitute a bone egg, for the birds to stand over, or sit upon,
and on the third day, when the hen would lay her second egg, between one and
two o'clock; prior to this, on the same morning, restore the first egg about nine
o'clock, so that it might acquire the same warmth of the last egg, and both
hatched together. I know I was a great gainer by this method, but having many
birds, it was too troublesome; but if you have a few birds and time on your hands,
it will reward you for your trouble.

OF HATCHING.

The Fancier should be very particular, and be certain of the day of hatching.
The way I do is to keep a book on purpose, and in looking at the nest pans, where
I expect them to lay after six o'clock in the evening; if an egg is laid, I put in
the book the number of the penn to which the birds belong the day the first egg is
laid; suppose the first egg on the first of the month, the second egg on the third,
then add seventeen days for sitting from the last egg which is laid on the third,
making it the twentieth; and while you are going ‘your round to look after fresh
laid eggs, look to those eggs that are to hatch that day, for be assured that in nine
cases out of ten the birds will be hatched if hatched at all, unless the weather is
unfavorable and the birds do not sit close ; on the contrary, should the weather be
very hot, and the birds sit close with a good warm nest, they will rather hatch
before. We will suppose the seventeenth day from the hen having laid her last
ege now arrived, and the young ones beginning to hatch, much attention is now
necessary to be paid, and a little judicious assistance is sometimes requisite to
assist the young bird in extricating itself from its prison-house, and particularly
in the spring, when the young ones even in the shell are more delicate and weakly
than they are at a later period of the season, and consequently less able to disengage
themselves. If an egg does not spring or chip by the time it ought, namely, in
the course of the seventeenth day, the Fancier should hold it to his ear, and if the
young one makes a crackling kind of noise, and that pretty briskly, he may
conclude it will soon chip; when it has so chipped, if the young one should not
proceed in its endeavours to break the shell as much as the Fancier thinks it ought
to have done in the time, and does not continue to make so brisk a noise, it is a
sure sign that the young one is weakly and almost exhausted, requiring immediate
assistance ; in that case he should gently dent his thumb or finger nail, or the head
of a pin, in a circle round the egg, in the same manner as if it had been done from
within by the beak of the young one itself; remembering to let in a little air,
which may be safely done at the part where its beak lies, and no blood will issue
from it, by which means it will be greatly assisted in extricating itself, and many
a valuable bird may be thus saved; particular care should be taken not to pick a

—_—_____——-

15

*

hole in any other part of the shell than above mentioned or make it bleed, although
I have heard some Fanciers say they have taken them out of the shell and they
have bled like pigs, but it is extremely dangerous. If it has been moving about
in the shell so long as to have absorbed all the moisture or blood, and has by its
circuitous motion rolled up the little caul or membrane in which it is enveloped
whilst in the egg, it may safely be set at liberty, taking care to expose it to the air
as short a time as possible. When it is disengaged from the shell, a portion
of the yolk will be seen attached to its navel, which will nourish it for a day or
two, if the old ones should not happen to feed it immediately. It happens from
some cause or other, that the young ones do not get fed, in these cases if the
Fancier is anxious to save the produce of the pair, and has no means of shifting
them under another pair, he must take some crumb of bread, and some yolk of an
egg boiled hard, and masticate them in his mouth till they become of the proper

~ consistence to pass into the crop of the young bird, and by applying its beak to

his mouth it will in general suck its crop full very readily, and by the time he has
repeated this a day or so, the chances are greatly in favor of the old ones feeding
it, either from a more abundant supply of soft meat, or from some other cause ;
but if the Fancier neglects this too long, the young bird will become weak and
will not thrive upon his experiment, even though it should have taken some of this
artificial food into its crop in the way before mentioned; but when once the old
ones have fed it after him, it is astonishing to see the alteration that takes place in
the young bird for the better, in a few hours.

If one should hatch considerably before the other, which it will do if the old
ones have rather sat upony than merely stood over the first egg, and it should happen
to be a bad head and beak bird, which is not very promising, kill it, although an
Almond, and rather take the chance of what the other egg will produce; it being
in his favor that the produce will be a short-faced good head and beak bird: the
reason I recommend this is, because the rough and strong bird being first hatched,
will acquire too much strength, get all the food and starve the one most wished to
be raised. For you do not stand in need of rough Almonds, any more than
queer Kites; should you have plenty of feeders that can bring it up you may do
so, and make a feeder of it, but do not hazard the rearing of a valuable bird
through it. The more you kill, comparatively speaking, however strange it may
appear to you, my experience teaches the greater will be your gain; otherwise, as I
stated before, you will raise the rough long-faced, and lose the valuable short-faced
birds, but I advise you to have plenty of feeders.

OF SHIFTING.

Hatching a little wonder is one thing, to raise it another; and in a former part
of this work I laid great stress on the shifting, when you consider how early the
old birds begin to decline sitting on their young; this is more particularly the case
with the Almond Tumblers, who will rarely bring up their own young, except in
the height of summer, by reason of their quitting them sooner to go to nest again;
they begin to get restless as early as the sixth day, and the ninth or tenth they
will be off the nest for an hour or more at atime, and get calling to nest again
by which the young ones are left exposed to the air before they have a feather
upon them, and die of cold with their crops full; to obviate this he should shift
them under another pair that have not hatched so long, and kill the young ones
he takes away from such other pair, if he has not a shift for them also; in doing
which he gets these shifted young ones an additional supply of warmth from being
sat on, and of soft meat, from the fresh pair not having hatched or fed so long, and
consequently their soft meat not being exhausted. Some Fanciers are very unwilling
to kill a bird, by which means they frequently lose two ; but, surely, it is better to
kill one to save the other, than not to kill it, and so lose both.

If he has not Almonds enough, it is better to get some common Tumblers for
feeders or nurses, such as bald-heads or beards, and by killing their young, which

16

®

he will do without reluctance, he may be certain of bringing up his young Almonds,
and if he is judicious he may generally have a succession of feeders, by taking
away the hens of his feeders, and confining them awhile, and when any of his best
Almonds are within a day or two of laying, turn the feeder hen to her mate, they
will go to nest immediately, and lay in a week or less after the others, by which
means he will get a certain shift for his young Almonds at the distance of six,
seven, or eight days, which is just the time the old ones begin to desert them, and
thus bring up a pair of good birds, which without such feeders he probably would
have lost, he should let the common birds feed their own young a day or two
after hatching to bring on their soft meat.

: There are Fanciers, who, by no means approve of shifting oftener than once,
if it can be avoided, but sometimes the course of shifting throughout the whole
loft, will necessarily be such that it cannot be prevented. Too great a supply of
soft meat is very detrimental, and frequently fatal, by causing the canker or
putrescence in the throat of the young bird. It is very necessary to give the
young ones fresh nests when you shift them, and here I will just throw out a hint—
I sincerely hope you have no insects, for if you scrape up your aviary, loft, or
breeding places daily, by attention to these rules you will not be troubled with
these insects in any material degree ; the best way is to burn the old nests, and
a few hot cinders dropped into the nest pan, and shaken round, will kill all
that remain in the porous parts of the pan. Some Fanciers assert that shifting
the nests of the young birds is apt to give them the scowers, but I cannot say I
have ever experienced that to be the case, on the contrary they have always
thriven greatly.

OF MOULTING.

This, though not a disease, but natural to all the feathered kind, is more fatal
to the Almond Tumbler than any disease that afflicts them, they moult, or in
other words, cast their old feathers, and acquire anew set every year. Numbers
of them die under this painful operation of nature, before they can accomplish the
change, and most of them are rendered more or less unwell, particularly the hens,
which are generally more delicate and less capable of bearing such a change; if
they are old it is mostly fatal to them. They begin to moult about May or June
by casting the flight feathers, and no further moult is perceptible till the middle
of July or so, when the body feathers begin to appear pretty thick about the
aviary or loft, in August they get considerably into moult, and in the month
of September, they are what is called deep in moult, many of them being very
ragged about the breast and hackle, and some of their necks are featherless, but
full of stumps of the new feathers, which gives them avery disagreeable appearance
for a short time, greatly altering the proportions of their shape, and disguising
them so much that the Fancier scarcely knows his own birds. Should he chance
to go out of town for a month or six weeks at this particular season, he would on
his return have great difficulty in distinguishing one from another, from the great
alteration that takes place, for in general they acquire more colour, and get darker
every year, particularly the cock birds. They do not get completely out of moult
till November, and I have seen them moulting even later than this. Towards the
close of the season, when the birds are in the worst stage of their moulting, and
the weather is gradually getting colder, warmth is particularly necessary in
order to assist them in casting their feathers kindly. Notwithstanding this, I do
not think it right to shut up the aviary or loft, running the risk of affecting the
health of the birds in general, and making them tender on account of a few that
are not so well as the others, for air is as necessary as warmth; but such as are
unusually ill should be taken and put in a pen, in a room where there is a fire,
giving them a pill or two of aloes, with some seed. If they do not begin to moult
freely with this treatment, some of their rump and tail feathers should be pulled
out, which will sometimes set them into moult; it will be proper to give all the

17

birds a good handful of hemp or rape seed every day, which will warm and
make them comfortable, and greatly assist by such warmth to cast the feather.

Some birds that are rather delicate will not blow their flights and tails. kindly,
which will be seen on examining them, and they will be found covered with a
sheath or cylinder to the very tip or extremity of what should be the feather,
giving it the appearance of a thin skewer; when this is perceived it is a sign of
weakness, and the bird should be kept warm if it could be spared from the loft,
and the feather will blow freely, as warmth assists the feather in blowing, so cold
and damp weather will make the husk or sheath tough, and prevent its drying
and scaling off as it will do in hot weather, and the feather will perish. It the
bird cannot be spared from the aviary or loft to be kept warm, so that the feather
may disengage itself ; the husk should be peeled off as far as it is tolerably dry,
and care must be taken that the feather is not pulled out, as the one that succeeds
it (if any does succeed) will be worse than the one so drawn, and most likely be
nothing more than a mere stump or perished feather, care must also be taken
not to make it bleed. ‘The best way I have found out in endeavouring to moult the
birds, was to imagine that I was fatting the birds for the spit, believing from
observations that a bird would not die of moulting, provided it was fat; on the
contrary, I am certain that a poor lean emaciated half-starved bird cannot
by any possibility throw its feather, and the only way I ever found out to cause

it to moult, was to get it in high condition, and then it moulted without any
further trouble of mine, and I believe that I could never get the birds so fat as
when I gave them wheat; be this as it may, if you want to get your birds well
through the moult, get them as fat as you possibly can, and a little saffron in their
water is likewise very beneficial.

OF VERMIN.

These birds, like every other kind, have their peculiar species of vermin, the
most troublesome are a sort of louse, not unlike in colour those found upon

ersons of filthy habits, but of a different shape, being nearly round, and about
half the size, they run incredibly swift, and on turning up the feathers on the
belly of the bird, disappear in an instant, they harbour in the short feathers on
the underpart of the rump close to the quills of the tail feathers; but are to be
found in greater abundance on the belly, near the vent, where the bird cannot
very well reach them, and if the bird is very foul the roots of the feathers will be
clotted with nits or eggs, and swarms of these insects will run away in every
direction the moment the feathers are turned up ; they also inhabit the neck, where
they likewise deposit their eggs in great abundance, being there perfectly safe,
from destruction till they arrive at maturity, when they descend to the belly-part —
for sustenance. Birds with wry, crooked, or hooked beaks, are most subject
to these vermin, being from those defects less able to destroy them, and should
therefore be particularly attended to.

The best remedy, beyond all doubt, is the unguent. mercur., commonly called
blue ointment, rubbed, on the parts, but not in such quantity as to affect the bird,
a small portion is sufficient ; this should not be rubbed about the head or neck,
but only on the belly, aud the clotted or nitted feathers pulled off, which will clear
the way for the application of the ointment, and by the next day he will not be
able to find any vermin of that kind upon the birds. They should be examined
every now and then, as the nits in the neck which were not affected with the
unction will be continually coming to life, and create a new brood, and over-run
the birds again very shortly, therefore, as often as any signs of vermin appear,
rub a little of the ointment on the belly to receive them, which will infallibly kill
all that touch it, by these means the Fancier will always keep his birds clear.

This is particular necessary for the hens, as many of them suffer,. and are
exhausted so much by this little blood sucker that they will not breed, but upon
B

18

eleaning them they recover their health, and breed as well as ever. I have seen
birds so devoured with them, as to have large crusts or scabs formed by the
ichor that flows from the wounds these little animals inflict upon their bellies,
under which scabs, forming a sort of canopy, they run for shelter, and remain in
safety when the bird is picking itself; another purpose is also answered by these
incrustations, covering parts of the belly of the bird in a circle beyond where the
wounds are, by rendering the parts so covered softer to the Ppiercers of these little
insects, and affording them a more ready, as well as asafe opportunity, of satisfying
the cravings of their voracious appetites. The blue ointment not only destroys
the vermin, but heals the wounds under the crusts before mentioned, in a day
or two. Some Fanciers are afraid of venturing upon this remedy, and have
recourse to the usual ones of snuff, tobacco dust, snuff and hog’s-lard, smoking
their feathers, &.; but I am satisfied these are of very little, if any use, because
they are not fatal to the insects, if they come in contact with it, and, besides,
they are very troublesome and prejudicial in the application, by getting into the
bird’s eyes, nostrils, &c., disfiguring them, and discolouring their plumage, which
must be turned back to get the snuff down to the quills of the feathers.

I know a good Fancier that always uses a strong decoction of tobacco water. I
formerly used sweet oil, and the heat of the body caused the oil to spread all
over the skin of the bird, and the insects could not escape; but I fancied the oil
rotted the roots of the feather, and caused them to come off. I mentioned the
circumstance one evening at a grand show, and was informed that if I used
animal oil, instead of vegetable, it would not happen—such as neat’s-foot oil; I
think this would be worth trying. Of late I have used nothing but the blue

ointment, and have anointed upwards of one hundred at the same time, but only

on the belly, never having used it on the neck, and never saw any of them
tremulous or paralytic ; but there are Fanciers who have ventured to rub some
of the ointment about the neck feathers; if the Fancier does this, it must be

done very cautiously and sparingly, otherwise it will affect the birds so far as
to make them tremulous and paralytic, and even kill them. I therefore recommend
the young Fancier not to apply the ointment to the neck at the same time that
he does to the belly, but wait two or three days first.

I am bound to acknowledge, after the most mature consideration, that I cannot
possibly do better than give verbatim, some of the remarks on the management of
the Almond Tumbler, contained in a work now out of print, dedicated to the
“Gentlemen of the Columbarian Society ;” those remarks are so true, taken from
actual observations, and constitutes a complete fund of experience ; nevertheless,

I shall add a few ideas, which I trust will not be found unacceptable or unworthy
of following the excellent remarks I here allude to.

THE LOFT

Should be very airy, and at the top of the house, and if it is large, it would be
better to divide it, as the Fancier will find two rooms very convenient upon many
accounts, particularly in cross-matching, in the middle of the breeding season, if
the produce of his birds should not please him; and he will find his birds more
familiar if they have not too much wing room; and when he wishes to catch
any of them, he should entice them into the area with a little rape or hemp seed,
by which he will avoid hurrying them about the room, and may catch them at
pleasure, and prevent the probability of a hen who is near laying, dropping her
egg on the ground. The area should, if convenient, have a south west aspect,
that the birds may have the benefit of the Sun in the spring mornings, when
they are near laying, which will greatly assist them if the weather should
unfortunately set in cold, soon after matching. And besides, it is very great service
to the young ones as soon as they are able to fly up to it; but if it is convenient,
I should recommend a separate room or loft for them, as soon as they are fit
to be drafted off, as they will certainly thrive better, where they have no old

19

birds to contend with, and Knock them about. The penns should be two feet
square at the least, with fronts to them, and a pitching board, and a small place
to go in and out at, which should be made to fasten up as occasion requires. The

lighter the work is, consistent with the proper degree of strength, the better, and_

the work should be let in, in order to give it a neat appearance. There are
people in the Fancy who are carpenters, and understand that sort of work better
than a man who is not a Fancier. The bars should not be more than two inches
asunder. I prefer a shelf midway between the flooring and the ceiling of the
penn, big enough to hold a nest pan, and a little over, for the birds to pitch upon
when they fly up to it; by this means the young ones may always be prevented
getting into the new nest with the old ones, when they are gone to nest again,
and thus many a pair of eggs may be saved. When the old ones begin to leave
their young, which they will generally do in nine or ten days time, and frequently
sooner, remove the pan with the young ones from the shelf to the floor of the penn,
the old ones will not forsake them, but continue to feed them as before, and the hen
will sit on them at night as usual. A few days afterwards, when you perceive
they are very anxious to go to nest again, put them a fresh pan on the shelf,
which they will readily take to, and this plan may be pursued all through the
season, and save a vast deal of trouble and loss. Though I have said it is desirable
to have a warm aspect for the areas, I by no means wish it to be understood that
I think the loft should be kept warm; on the contrary, it should have a free
current of air, and in winter, except in very coarse days, I think the birds cannot
be kept too cool, being convinced it braces them, and particularly the hens. It
is only at the laying time in the spring, that I recommend the loft being shut up,
to keep out the cold and searching winds, as the hens are at this time frequently
very ill.

The loft and areas should be scraped every day, and kept thorough clean, the
birds will be much more healthy, and never get clogged with dirt, and the Fancier
will have greater pleasure in going into his loft; besides all this, it will prevent
the possibility of fleas and other vermin infesting him. A little water should be
sprinkled on the floor in the hot summer months, provided the Fancier does
not gravel his loft. Some use this method of gravelling the floor, which I
disapprove, on account of the dust it makes, and the harbour it affords for vermin,
but the birds should always have access to gravel.

Above all, take care that the loft is not infested with rats or mice, the former
of which will not only destroy the eggs, but the young ones also, and even the
_ old ones, if no young ones are to be had; but a good cat trained up in the loft,
and well disciplined, will remedy all this. I recommend a boar cat, but he should
be castrated, that he may not be hankering to get out after the females, or entice
others to the loft. A she cat is objectionable on the same account as an uncut
boar cat is. These are more formidable enemies in their natural state than any
other, and the loft on that account should, if possible, be inaccessable to the
approach of cats. If this cannot be managed, they must be trapped, and all means
used to prevent their ravages, not omitting to make the bars of the areas proof
against their paws.

OF PENNING THE BIRDS.

The birds being paired, the next care must be to make them well acquainted
with their respective penns, and for this purpose they should be penned up for @
few days, or longer if necessary, in the penns designed for them, during which
time they will match strong, and become well acquainted with their habitations.
The Fancier should then begin by opening two of the penns, that are most remote
from each other, and the birds, finding no entrance to any other, will readily learn
to know the places they came out of, When these two pair are well acquainted
with their penns, they should be fastened up again, and two other pair let out,
remembering to let out such as are most distant from each other, by which means

they will be less liable to mistake each other’s home; and so he must proceed,
till the whole are well acquainted with their respective abodes. Great care should
be taken to prevent a cock getting master of two penns, for if once he gets a habit
of going into another bird’s penn, be assured he will never rest till he has driven
that cock and hen from their house, and spoilt their eggs or killed their young
ones. When this is become very troublesome, the only remedy is, to put him and
and his hen into another room, for it is almost impossible to break him of this
trick, if once he gets master. Thus the advantage of dividing the loft is clearly
shewn, for without this convenience, he must be under the necessity of keeping
that pair of birds constantly penned up, which would be very prejudicial to their
health, and fill them with vermin. During this peried, the young Fancier must
bestow a little time in watching them, and putting them a few times into their own
penns, if they are at a loss to find them. By attending to these rules, the birds
will soon become steady and settled. Particular care should also be taken always
- to give the cock the same habitation he had last year, if not, he will get master of
two penns, and occasion the difficulty just mentioned. The same care is not
necessary with regard to the hens, they will always follow their cocks, when
thoroughly matched.

OF THE NEST PANS.

Every pair of birds should be provided with a nest.pan, which should be put on
the shelf in the penn, and the birds made to go to nest there, as pointed out in my
observations upon making the penns. These pans should be about eight inches in
diameter at the top, and between three or four inches in depth; they should not
be perpendicular, but slope inwards from the top to the base, and should be rough
on the inside, for the better retention of the straw. These can be made at any
pottery, upon giving a model, or proper instructions how they are to be made.
Some Fanciers have used little nests, in the shape of a pan, made with straw bands
after the fashion of a bee-hive; these are very objectionable, on account of the
harbour they afford for vermin, and from which it would be impossible ever to
clear them.

MARKS,
BY WHICH TO ASCERTAIN THE COLOURS OF YOUNG BIRDS IN THE NEST.

If the beak has no mark on it, but is quite white, the bird will be an Almond.

If the beak is white, and has a little patch of black somewhere about it, this
will probably be a Splash; but, should it be an Almond, it will most likely have
a great deal of black about it. '
_ If the beak be crossed on the point. with a black stripe, or cross, rather inclining
to blue, this bird will be a black, and not a Kite.

If with a deep blue mark, it will be a blue, which colour is very objectionable;
and, if the pair should throw this colour more than once, they should be parted,
and were they mine, I should part them the first time.

If with a black mark, rather inclining to, or having a faint tinge of red, it will
be a Kite, and most likely a rich one.

If with a slatey-coloured mark, it will be a Dun.

If with a straw-colour, a Yellow.

If with a deeper straw-colour, inclining to red, an Agate. And,

If with a deep red, it will be a Red, or Red-mottled bird.

By minute attention to these marks, the Fancier will seldom fail in his prediction
of the colour, long before any signs of feathers are visible.

With respect to such young birds turning out good or bad, that cannot be
reduced to so great a certainty, as they alter so much in the nest, that a person

21

would sometimes scarce think it was the same bird he had seen a day or two
before, was he not certain that no one could have changed it. These alterations
are sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse, so that there is no
saying, with any precision, which will, or will not, be a good bird, until after it
has moulted, when the bird is seen in full beauty, and to the best advantage,
Notwithstanding this, I am inclined to think that a good Fancier, who has made}, |
his observations, can give a pretty good guess, so far as head and beak enly are} |
concerned, because they are apparent, and the other properties occult, and not to} |
be discovered till the bird arrives at maturity. But, if the young one is chubby |
about the beak, and has very little space between the head and the wattle, he may
be assured it will be a short-faced bird, and may, in general, tell whether the beak
will be coarse or fine.

OF DRAFTING

THE YOUNG ONES INTO ANOTHER LOFT.

This is very desirable, provided the Fancier is not straightened for room. As
soon as the young ones can feed themselves, they should be taken into the loft
provided for them, and have plenty of gravel and mortar, and their area should
be kept thorough clean, where they will pick themselves, and bask in the sun,
and thrive prodigiously. .

Their food should be the best tares; or if sound beans could be procured that
are small enough, I should prefer them, but it will be better to let them have
both, as I do not think tares alone, a wholesome dict, being apt to make them scour.

An additional reason for drafting the young ones off, is, that the old ones should
not continue feeding them, till they are on the point of hatching again, which they
will do, even though they can feed themselves, and which is very injurious to the
old ones, as they have no time to recruit from their labour, which, in feeding two
or three large birds on the floor, as is often the case, is very great, and pulls the
birds down very much, and throws them out of condition, particularly the hens,
who are not equal to it, and have frequently seen them very ill from so great
exertion, and on taking them in hand, have found them considerably wasted,
which by taking off the young birds, has been remedied in a few days, and
the old ones have picked up their flesh as before. For want of an additional room
to draft them off, the Fancier must, if his loft is divided, put them in the
contrary side, where they will be prevented teazing the old ones, and learn to
feed well in two or three days.

OF BARREN BIRDS.

It sometimes happens that the Fancier has a pair of barren birds in his loft, that
is, a pair that from age, or some other defect of nature, will not breed. This is
more frequently attributable to the hen, as she is more liable to be weakened from
too much breeding, and laying too quickly, and perhaps not having had sufficient
care taken to sit and feed her off. But if she lays regularly, and the eggs do not
come to perfection, after the usual time of sitting, it is clear it is not her fault, and
must be attributed to some defect in the cock. If she does not lay, and only
wants to be continually going to nest, it is her fault, and the best way is to give
her a pair of eggs, and let her sit on them, and provide her a young one to feed
off, when her time for sitting is out ; and repeat this when she wishes to go to nest
again for a few times, and if the hen is curable without flying her, this will make
her lay again. If she is very valuable, the Fancier should send her to some friend ~
in the country who keeps pigeons, aud match her to one of the common birds, and
let her fly ; and if she is not past breeding, it will bring her round... When the
Fancier has a hen of this description, and the cock is not too good to lose the use
of in this way, he may make them very useful as feeders, by sitting them at
almost any time he wishes, which office, by a little management, they will very
readily perform, and when their time of sitting is expired, will be ready to take #

pair of good young ones off from some other pair, that are beginning to desert
them. Should he not like to keep a pair of this description, he must discard the
faulty bird; but before he does this, he should examine it, to see if it has any
vermin, as they are sometimes the cause of barrenness.

OF WASHING.

The Fancier should take notice, that nothing contributes more to cleanliness
than frequent washings, in which the birds delight amazingly, and plunge into
the water with great eagerness; but this must not be permitted to be done
in a slovenly way, if it is, they will not be benefitted. The pan should be put
into the area, and the birds made to wash there, that the waste water may run
away, and not be suffered to wash in the loft, and make a wet place, that will
not be dry in three or four days, by which they will draggle their flights and
tails, and make themselves more dirty, instead of cleaner. The water should
not be given them more than twice a week, or three times at most, for if they
have it too frequently, they will not use it. Another inconvenience that would
result from their constantly having water to wash in, would be, that some would
be washing one day, and some another, the area would never be dry, and the
same evil would arise as if they were permitted to wash on the floor of the loft,
for nothing soils their plumage so much as constant wet, particularly their flights
‘and tails, I think the cistern water for this purpose is best, because it is softer
and more likely to assist in removing the filth from their plumage, than pump-water.

OF FLYING THE BIRDS.

Some Fanciers prefer flying their bitds, but to this I cannot assent, either in
town or country, more particularly in town, as they are extremely weak and timid,
and the least blast of wind would blow them down the chimneys; or one bird
playing up against another, would have the same effect, and the Fancier would
be continually losing birds of value, to his great mortification, and be constantly
getting into disgrace with his neighbours, and perhaps into difficulties, add to
this, that the birds would be ten times more dirty, and washing is of no use,
therefore, as no advantage whatever can possibly be derived from it, 1 object to
it entirely. In the country it is different, because it is clean, and may benefit the
plumage ; but even there, I would not fly them constantly, as it tends to make
them coarse, which is the reverse of what is wished to be obtained in these birds,
viz.—delicacy ; I should therefore fly them only occasionally, which would answer
all the purposes of keeping them healthy, and beautiful in their plumage. And
a further reason is, that it tends to make them wild, instead of what is so desirable,
perfectly familiar. Some have doubted whether the Almonds will tumble in the
air when flying like the common Tumblers, but I can solve that doubt, by assuring
them, that they will, and that I once had one of my own, that tumbled remarkably
well, and very clean, never losing any way 1n the air, so as to be distanced by the
rest of the flight, which is a great perfection in tumbling.

OF LOAM. |

The birds should be furnished with loam, of which they are remarkably fond,
which should be put into a garden or flower-pot, and well soaked, and when the
water has drained off, and the loam become solid, lay the pot on its side, and they
will eat the loam very greedily, especially if there is a little salt in it, of which
they are also immoderately fond; but as they are already of a hot nature, and
sufficiently thirsty, 1 do not approve of increasing that thirst by artificial means,
unless some good reason could be given for it, and which I confess I am at a
loss to find out. Some Fanciers say, that obliging them to drink is very useful
to them; but I cannot say I agree with them, as it seems to me to stand to
yeason, that a bird will drink sufficiently if it can get it, without any unnatural

23
means to provoke it. There are loam-pots to be had at the earthenware shops
made on purpose, they are of a conical form, part of the cone or cap takes off,

for the reception of the loam, and there are holes in the side for the birds to get at it.

I am of opinion, that loam should be given only in the summer time, or breeding
season, and not in the winter, having good reason to think it occasions the roop,
or at least promotes it, and retards the cure when the bird is troubled with that
complaint, and the reason that occurs to me, seems to be feasible enough, which
is, that the roop being a sort of cold in the head, and the nose, or nostrils rather,
having a communication with the mouth, and being in that complaint always
stuffed with rheum or phlegm, I think it is fair to presume, that the constant
eating of cold loam may sometimes occasion the roop, or at least may tend to
make it worse, when a bird is already affected with it. I used formerly to suffer
my birds to eat it all winter, and they all had this complaint more or less. It
afterwards occured to me that this might possibly be the reason, and since that
time I have not allowed them any, after the cold weather has set in, and have
had the satisfaction of finding, that none of my birds have been affected with it
since, ina general way, but only now and then one. Some Fanciers make a
composition of loam, gravel, and mortar, adding some salt, but I think it is far
preferable to give them each of these (except the salt) in their crude or natural state.

GRAVEL.

Is essentially necessary for the birds to have always by them; and unless they
have, or some substitute in lieu of it, as sand or mould, I am inclined to think
~ they would not be healthy. It is absolutely requisite for the purpose of grinding
and digesting the food, which enters the stomach from the crop, in a whole, though
soft state, and was it not for the particles of gravel, little stones, and other hard
substances which they pick up, and which passes through the gizzard with the
food, and assists maceration and digestion, I should think birds would not only
become very unhealthy and indolent, but not live in our lofts to that age which
they frequently do, some of them living with us nine, ten, and even eleven years.

MORTAR.

From the eagerness with which these birds search for, and from the avidity
with which they devour mortar, one would think it was as absolutely necessary
to their existence as gravel, but reflection will teach us that it is not, for before
the mortar can reach the stomach it must be rendered soft, if not entirely dissolved,

‘and thereby become unfit for the purpose of grinding the food, which is the use
of the small stones in the gravel, but it may possibly, from its heat, assist in
promoting maceration and digestion. Some Fanciers assert it will harden the
eggshell, when a hen is near laying; but to this I cannot readily subscribe,
conceiving that mortar from its hot nature would rather corrode, than indurate
the shell. I do not however perceive that any ill effects arise from their eating
it, and on that account perhaps it may be fair to conclude, that it is of some service
to them. ‘There is no doubt but their fondness for mortar arises from the quantity
of salt-petre, or saline particles, which it contains, and their immoderate partialit
for salt being universally known and admitted, I should think, that although they
are so fond of it, yet it is by no means absolutely necessary to their existence ;
but where Fanciers fly their birds, it is absolutely necessary to supply them well
with mortar, as a matter of policy, otherwise they will shortly unroof the house
they belong to, and greatly damage those adjoining, and bring their keepers into
difficulty. The mortar should not be new, but should be got on purpose from
the rubbish of some old house or wall that is pulling down, which has lost the
greater part of its original heat, and which is therefore preferable to fresh made
mortar.

OF THEIR FOOD.

I shall now call the young Fancier’s attention to a matter which is most material
of all to the health of his birds, and upon which the speedy and vigorous increase
of their young greatly depends, I mean their food.

If the throats of the young birds were not so small, I have no hesitation in
saying, that beans of the best quality, and as small as they could be obtained, would
be the best food that could possibly be given them; and was it not for the difficulty
the old birds have in feeding their young entirely upon beans, I would never give
them any thing else. This might possibly be objected to by some, from a sup-
position, that beans alone would not so readily furnish a sufficiency of soft meat,
from their solidity, but I should think this reasoh would not bear them out, as it
is notorious that the birds of the common Fanciers are fed upon nothing else, and
they are always furnished with as much soft meat as those that are otherwise fed.
But in the breeding season, the Almond Tumbler should be supplied also with
good sound old tares, and to the hoppers containing these, as well as the beans,
they should have free access, that they may satisfy themselves as often as occasion
requires, which is almost incessant whilst they are feeding their young, being very
voracious feeders, which may be accounted for, from their great heat of constitution,
the food being quickly digested and converted into excrement, and continually
passing through them; care should be taken not to purchase such beans or tares
as have been at sea, and got damaged with salt water, as they will infallibly scour
or purge the birds, and probably kill some of them. In order to ascertain this,
the Fancier ought always to put some of them into his mouth, and chew them,
by which means he will readily discover it, should it be so.

In order, in some measure, to prove my argument as to the beans being the
best food, and preferable to any other, I shall state the observations I have made
upon the excrement of the birds as soon as voided.

I have noticed the excrement of birds that have been fed upon ordinary beans,
and found that it was tolerably hard and good, but that it was not attended with
much mucus or slime, from which I infer, that the food was not sufficiently
nutritious to afford the proper quantum of mucus necessary for the easy discharge
of the foeces; but the foeces of birds fed upon prime hard old beans, have been
very different, and according to my idea have worn a much more healthy appearance
than the former; the foeces of birds so fed have been voided in a solid lump,
surrounded with a plentiful quantum of fine oily, or slimy mucus, from whence
I think the operation of digestion is better performed by the best food, and
consequently that the birds must be more healthy.

Tares, if of ever so good quality, are very improper to feed birds upon alone, for
they are very laxative, and never produce a solid excrement, which in a great
measure tends to prove my argument as to the superiority of the first mentioned
food; for whoever has made any observation upon the ordure of birds fed upon
tares alone, will, I trust, allow, that it is never solid, but generally of a pasty
consistence, and sometimes very thin ; I think it thence follows, that birds in this
constant state of laxation, can never be so hearty and vigorous as those fed upon
good old beans, which produce a solid excrement.

From what I have above advanced, it will readily be supposed that I prefer
beans alone for their constant food, when the breeding season is over; I certainly
do, and with great reason, as I attribute my having been particularly fortunate
to the observations of the before-mentioned rules, and may venture to say, although
my birds are kept in the heart of this great city, enveloped in constant clouds of
smoke from chimnies, foundries, furnaces, &c., no Fancier’s birds are more healthy,
and few have raised so many young ones in proportion to their stock, or lost so
few old ones from diseases, &c. The only inconvenience which I can complain
of is, the utter impossibility of keeping the plumage of my birds so clean and

25

beautiful, as those kept in a clearer atmosphere, which is certainly very much to
their disadvantage, and a great detraction from the beauty of their colours.

OF THEIR DRINK.

I prefer pump water for the drink of the birds, conceiving it to be more bracing,
and less impregnated with animalcule than cistern, or river water, consequently
less subject to putrescence in the hot water. ‘hey are very great drinkers, not
drinking like fowls by little sips, but in continued draughts, like quadrupeds,
moving their mouths very quick, and swallowing the water greedily. Particular
care should be taken to keep their fountains or bottles clean, as it is not at all
improbable that diseases may arise from the foul state of a fountain, which will
become greatly furred, and even stink, when the weather is hot, if not frequently
cleaned. The fountains or bottles should not be filled too full in hot weather, so
that the water may be soon drank, and replaced with fresh, which will prevent
the possibility of its becoming putrid. Some put a lump of chalk into their water,
this may be very well, where there is none but river water to be had, but I should
think no great degree of astringency could be communicated to the water by it.
If any scourings take place amongst the old birds, the Fancier may break plenty
of chalk and mortar on the floor, which they will eat readily ; and as to the young
ones, he must adopt the remedy laid down on treating of this complaint.

They are exceedingly fond of urine, and will drink it greedily, if they can get
at it; some Fanciers soak their loam with it, which induces them to eat a great
deal of it, and they will scarcely ever leave the place where it is to be obtained.
This may be very well for those Fanciers who keep common birds and fly them,
but I object to it for the Almond Tumbler, on the same ground as salt, viz. that
of creating an artificial thirst to birds already sufficiently thirsty. Pigeons drink
much at all times, but particularly when feeding large young ones; they then
run to the water, and take five or six hearty draughts, and immediately feed their
young; this assists in soaking the food, and also in the easy discharge of it from
the crop of the old ones into those of the young.

OF PARTING THE BIRDS

AFTER THE BREEDING SEASON,

I am a great advocate for this measure, having found my account in it, and
thence been thoroughly convinced of its beneficial effects, great utility, and
convenience; and [ shall endeavour to convince the young Fancier also, of the
propriety and advantage of this plan, by a few observations to that point. In
the first place, a great deal of plague and trouble is saved to the Fancier, by the
impossibility of the birds going to nest, which they will do, if not parted, in spite
of all his efforts to prevent them; he is then under the necessity of continuing them
another round, as the Fanciers term it, (though he is convinced of the impropriety
of it, at that late season of the year) to the great detriment of his hens, and
without a chance of bringing up what they may happen to hatch. In the next
place, should the weather set in cold, the birds remain a little inactive for the
moment as it were, but the first warm day that comes, though in December or
January, they are all alive, calling to nest, copulating, &c. which is very prejudicial
to both, but particularly to the hens, as it must necessarily tend to weaken and
enfeeble them, and make them what is called pappy, which is caused by their
being over salacious, and having too frequent connection with the males without
going to nest, as they would do if the weather was not so cold. Thus we plainly
see, that the only advantage to be derived from keeping the birds together in the
winter, is, ironically speaking, to spoil the hens.

And further, as few Fanciers match their birds in the manner they were matched,
the preceding season, from the number of young ones they may have bred, which.

by the following season are become matchable, and occasion the necessity of

altering the old matches, and from other causes, the advantage of parting the birds
in the winter, is here, I think, particularly conspicuous; it will enable him to
cross-match all his birds without the least difficulty, as they will cross-match ten
times more readily when they have been asunder two or three months, than when
they have been kept together.

When I have had oceasion to cross-match two or three pair of birds in the heighth
of the breeding season, on account of their produce not pleasing me, I have
frequently had great difficulty in obtaining my point, from the strong recollection
the birds have had of each other; and though I have at last succeeded, the
moment the hens have been turned into the loft they have flown to their former
penns and mates, and it was a considerable time before they were reconciled to
their new mates and abodes. To prevent this, the new matched pair should be
fastened into their own penn, taking care that the cock has the same penn as he
had before. This evil will be completely remedied by parting the loft, as the
Fancier may then puta pair or two of the cross-matched birds into the contrary
side to which they have been accustomed, and by this means avoid the intercourse
that must necessarily take place between the new matched birds, and their former
mates.

Another thing is necessary to be attended to by the Fancier, in cross matching,
viz.—he should have two or three matching penns in some other part of his house,
if not too inconvenient, in order that the birds he is about to cross match, may
be out of the hearing of their former mates, and of the other birds in the loft,
- which will greatly facilitate their speedy matching to their new mates. They will
frequently be a very long time in matching in the loft, where they can both see
and hear each other, and sometimes will not match at all.

If they continue obstinate, a handful of rape or hemp seed should he given them
occasionally ; and if the cock is very violent, and fights his hen, an open lath
partition should be put across the penn, to separate them, so that they may only
see each other, and they will soon match by this method, which will be ascertained
by the hen sweeping her tail, nodding her head, &c. which is called shewing.

OF THEIR DUNG.

Their dung is so valuable, and in so great requisition, that if it is preserved
genuine, and as little straw and other rubbish as possible suffered to get amongst
it, tanners and others will give five shillings per sack for it, and will fetch it
whenever they are informed there is any ready for them. It is used by the
tanners to separate the hair from the hides, being of an extremely hot nature, and
answering their purpose better than most other things they make use of. It is
also an excellent manure for cold. wet, and clayey land, and if it could be procured
in any quantity, the farmers of such sorts of land would give almost any price for it.

OF THEIR DISEASES.

The Almond Tumblers are not naturally liable to many diseases; the majority
of those which do attack them, I attribute to a want of sufficient cleanliness, and
good management in their masters, but if taken care of in these respects, they will
live nine or ten years, and sometimes longer, and are generally taken off at last by
the moult.

The first and most fatal that has come under my observation is, what is
commonly understood and called by the name of the Canker. This disorder is very
much confined to the young birds in the nest, and does not very frequently attack
the old ones, and as it originates in the cesophagus or throat, it seems to me to arise
from the putrefaction of a redundancy of the soft meat, and that putrescency
communicating itself to the throat, and causing a core, I am inclined to think, it
ought with greater propriety to be called a sore throat, and perhaps, from the
intolerable foetor emitted from the throat and crop, not improperly a putrid sore

throat; be this as it may, if the complaint is suffered to go on without any attempt
to relieve the bird, the core will enlarge, the throat swell, and the bird soon die of
suffocation.

Some people are apt to pick off the core, or cut it out, but this is not only of no
use, but fatal, as the core soon becomes larger than before, and could it all be cut
clean out, the bird would die very shortly, if not in a few minutes.

I have more than once opened the throat of a bird that died of this disease, and
all the information I could obtain was, that the core adhered so tight to the fleshy
or muscular parts of the throat, that it actually appeared like a part of the flesh,
being as it were incorporated with it, except that the colour of the core, being of a
yellow, distinguished it from the throat itself: the core was perfectly hard, and
would separate from the flesh, by pulling, or picking it with a knife, but this was
with some difficulty, on account of the adhesion, and when it did separate, it left
a large and deep hole. I have been surprised that I never should have been able
to discover any pus in the throat, which induces me to think that no suppuration
takes place, but this is probably because the bird must die of suffocation from the
swelling in the throat, before the matter can have had sufficient time to form, and
discharge itself.

My researches therefore have not been attended with any certain success, but
have left me still to conjecture.

One thing however I have ascertained, that to cut or pick the core, is fatal
sooner or later, from the great pain and quantity of blood the bird loses from these
operations.

Although as I have at first observed, this disease is more particularly incident
to young birds in the nest, yet it is by no means uncommon in old birds ; it does
not in general attack the throat, as in the young ones, but appears in a different
way, and usually comes about the mouth and beak, and is not to be discovered
very readily at first, but when it begins to enlarge, the bird will not be able to
close its mouth, and seems as if it was panting for breath, and on examining it, the
core will soon be discovered. I once had a bird that was attacked with this
complaint, and I discovered a core as big as a pea, on the outside of the beak or
lower jaw, which was much swoln, and it was with great pain and difficulty that
the bird could swallow: this had no doubt been some time forming, but it soon
gave way on applying the remedy I have under written.

Not being sufficiently able to trace the cause of this disorder, I must endeavour
to make some amends to the Fancier by communicating a cure when the effect is
produced: and which, if attended to, and frequently and patiently administered,
will, I have no doubt, generally succeed.

I cannot describe the quantums and proportions of the ingredients in the way a
medical man would do, but must content myself with telling the Fancier in a plain
way—to take

A half-pint phial, and fill it three parts full of the best vinegar, drop into it as
many drops of spirit of vitriol as will make it sufficiently pungent, which
may be ascertained by trying it on the tongue a few times, sweeten it
with a little honey, which will make it adhere to the throat, shake them
well together, and take a feather, and anoint the inside of the throat of
the bird affected, two or three times a day, and in general a cure will be
accomplished ; hang the phial up in the loft, where it will be ready for
fature occasions, a8 I do not perceive that the specific loses its virtue by
keeping.

That this complaint is contagious, I have no doubt, for it generally attacks a
number of young birds at the same time, and is most prevalent in the hot months,
Formerly this complaint used to infest my loft every season, by which I lost many.
good birds, but from what cause it arose I never could discover, the same degree

98

of cleanliness having been observed, and the birds having been treated in every
respect the same then, as since, as far as I can recollect, and I have not had a
single instance of the kind for many years past. The only possible conjecture I
can make, is, that possibly I might not have been so particular about the food I
then gave them, and most unquestionably, the quality of the food is very material
in the prevention of complaints.

THE ROOP.

The next disorder that comes particularly under our notice is, the Roop. This,
as I before observed, is a kind of cold or influenza, and is more frequent in cold,
damp, and wet weather, therefore in such weather the loft should be kept
particularly clear of dung, which if suffered to remain will increase the damp, and
make the birds worse, and perhaps spread the complaint through the whole loft,
for Iam of opinion, that this disorder is also contagious, therefore, on its first
appearance the infected bird or birds should be taken away, and kept warm, and
should occasionally have a handful of seed given them. Some put rue into their
water, but I do not think this is of any use; the only remedy with which I am
acquainted, is to keep them warm, and squeeze the rheum out of their nostrils,
and also from the orifice in the palate or roof of the mouth, which communicates
with the nostrils, by pressing which with the thumb and finger, and at the same
time opening the mouth, a lump of rheum like jelly, will be seen obtruding itself
from the orifice, which should be removed, and the bird will then breathe freely.
This should be repeated about twice a day, and a pill of bitter aloes, the size of a
pea, given once in two days, which will warm the inside, and the bird will soon
recover, A few pepper-corns are not amiss to be given the intervening days.
This is by no means a dangerous complaint, if attended to when discovered. It
seems to me to be very similar to a violent cold and stoppage in the head.

THE VERTIGO, OR MEAGRIMS.

These birds are subject to a complaint called the Vertigo or Meagrims, which is
an involuntary turning or twisting of the head towards the back, accompanied
with a blinking of the eyes, and the bird flutters and flies indiscriminately against
any thing that comes in its way. It is very disagreeable and painful to see them
in this situation; as I have yet to find out a certain cure for this complaint, and
as the bird seldom if ever gets the better of it, was it mine, and an indifferent
bird, I should think it best to put it out of its misery, and not torture it with
useless experiments.

THE STAGGERS. a

This is another complaint, and is a constant turning round or staggering, when
the bird attempts to walk or fly ; but as I am in the same predicament with respect
to the cure of this complaint as of the other, I should be necessitated to adopt the
same remedy.

Both the above complaints are very rare, and have never happened in my loft,
although I have seen them, so that I have never been driven to the necessity of
considering what would be proper to administer. upon these occasions. By what
information I have gathered upon the subject, I am inclined to think that these
complaints are rarely, if ever cured; I think it probable, that making a small
puncture in the roof of the mouth, to let out a little blood, might be attended with
beneficial effects, as the disorders both seems to me, to arise from a giddiness in
the head. Wasa valuable bird of mine to be in either of these situations, I should
certainly be induced to try the experiment, notwithstanding what I before said
about useless experiments; indeed the experiment would be hardly worth making
upon an ordinary bird, unless for satisfaction sake, and for the purpose of knowing
how to treat a better bird, was it to be in that situation.

29

SCOURING OR PURGING.

Pigeons are sometimes subject to scouring or purging, particularly young ones,
which is generally accompanied with a feetid smell; when this is perceived, put
down the throat a lump of chalk of the size of a bean, three or four times a day,
which will effectually stop it, and the bird will soon be as well as before. Pump
water, as before observed, being more astringent, should be given them, and the
clotted feathers, if any, should be plucked from about the anus, to prevent their
being cold and wet, which the constant purging will occasion, and their nests
should be kept dry, as from weakness in this complaint they are frequently unable
to dung over the side of the nest-pan.

THE SMALL POX.

The young birds are also subject to a complaint, which, from its similarity, is by
Fanciers called the Small Pox; it generally makes its appearance just before the
birds begin to fledge, and comes out pretty thick in little pustules filled with
matter, about the head, neck, and back; but I never observed that the birds were
the least ill with it, and it usually disappears in six or seven days, without having
had the smallest effect upon them that I could perceive, the birds thriving and
growing all the time as if nothing was the matter with them.

They have some other little complaints too trifling to notice, but if a bird is
unwell, and I cannot discover what the cause ofits illness is, I generally administer
a pill or two of rheubarb, of the size of a pea, and repeat it on the alternate day,
which purges them, and generally sets them right.

OF ODD OR UNMATCHED BIRDS.

The Fancier should avoid keeping too many odd or unmatched birds in his loft,
for they will be continually getting into the penns of the other birds that are sitting
steadily, and fight them, and if not break the eggs, in all probability cause the hen
to forsake her nest, by which she will be liable to lay again too quickly, and
without having sat a proper time to recruit herself; or if she was near hatching,
her crop will be filling with soft meat, which the Fancier will have no means of
getting rid of, for her, and she will be in danger of being sick and ill, in
consequence of it. To remedy this, he had better buy a common bird or two to
match to his own that are odd; and they will thus be prevented doing him
mischief, and be attended with the advantage of being serviceable to him as feeders.

Some Fanciers fit up their lofts with mere shelves, and partitions between them,
without any fronts, so that each division is open to the intrusion of every bird in
the loft, as well as to the pair it belongs to. ‘This, in my opinion, is an extremely
erroneous notion, as the Fancier must be in a much greater degree of uncertainty
as to the genuine produce of his birds, and of course much less able to give their
true pedigree, than if the penns were enclosed, for I have more than once been witness
to the attempt of a strange bird, to tread a hen, which has squatted to receive the
tread of her own mate, and no doubt but this sometimes actually takes place when
the Fancier is not present to prevent it. Add to this, that the birds are frequently
prevented treading their own hens, by the interference of other birds, who will
always fly at them, and prevent them, if they are any where about the loft exposed
to their view, which must ever be the case in open penns ; but where the penns
have fronts to them, the birds can copulate in quiet, and the strain is rendered
much more certain, The birds will also sit better, and be less likely to forsake
their eggs, which they will sometimes do, if they are too much exposed. And
another advantage is thereby derived ; the penus have fronts of good workmanship,

takes off that naked look, and give the loft a much more finished and neat appearance,

30

' A bird has sometimes a crossed or wry beak, which is a very great disfigurement
and of course must be as great an imperfection. This may be remedied whilst the
bird is young, and running about the floor, and is to be done in the following
manner :—That part of the upper beak which projects over the side of the under
one, must be pared off neatly, and the like done to the lower beak, which in
general curves upward on the contrary side, something similar to the tush of a hog,
but they must not be pared so close as to make them bleed ; then give the upper
beak a gentle bend the contrary way to which it inclines, serving the under beak
in the like manner, and by repeating this several times a day, and keeping the
curved parts of the beak constantly pared off, as they shoot again, the beak may
be got perfectly straight, This remedy will not answer for an old bird, as the horn
of the beak is not sufficiently pliable, but is become hard and brittle, and in the
attempt to bend, would snap off.

If the Fancier should have any young birds on the floor that are deserted, and
not fed by the old ones that should feed them, and are unable to feed themselves,
he must get a few beans down them once or twice a day, to prevent their losing
ground, and getting poor. This is to be done by putting some beans into his own
mouth, and then applying the beaks of the birds, at the same time opening them,
and as soon as the birds feel the beans, they will in general swallow them readily ;
but he must take care not to stop their breath by feeding them too long at a time,
their throats being very small just at the swallow, and one bean sticking in that
part would choak the bird and kill it; he must also give them some water in the
same way, and occasionally put their beaks into the water in the fountain, and they
will soon learn to go to it themselves; this is necessary only with such birds as
above described, that are backward from having been left too soon. Birds that are
obliged to be thus treated, are very apt to get under the feet of the Fancier, as they
run to him directly he goes into the loft; he should therefore put such into the
area, that he may not tread upon them, particularly if he has any person in the
loft with him.

There is a Society of Gentlemen of great respectability formed for the encourage-
ment of the breed of the Almond Tumbler, under the title of THe CotumBartaNn
Socrery, who meet almost monthly throughout the year, to dine and spend a
cheerful day together, chiefly in conversation upon the Fancy, and to produce such
young birds as they may have bred since their last meeting, for the inspection and
entertainment of the Society. These gentlemen have a subscription among them-
selves, for the purpose of giving premiums to such persons as shall have bred (that
season in which the subscription is made) the best birds, according to the standard
laid down by the Society. The prizes are generally four in number, and divided
into two classes, viz. Two cocks and two hens; and the subscription is usually
ample enough to allow the first cock and hen, ten guineas each; and the second,
five or six each. Sometimes there are six prizes, which are divided in the same
ratio, making the prize for the first bird in each class, considerably larger than the
others, ‘hese prizes are adjudged and determined by a committee of three
gentlemen chosen from among themselves, prior to the shew-day, who have not
any birds of their own, qualified as candidates for the prizes. On the shew-day
the committee assemble, and the birds which are’candidates for the prizes are then
put into the penns in an adjoining room, the cocks by themselves in one penn, and
the hens by themselves in another, whither the committee adjourn alone, to decide
upon the birds qualified to take the respective prizes, according to the standard
acknowledged by the members, which the committee have before them, to remind
and guide them in their decision. When they have made up their minds, the birds
are respectively marked, so as to ascertain which is first, second, &c. And the
members at large are then admitted into the room, to claim their own birds, and
receive a prize for such of them, as from the before-mentioned marks shall
appear to be entitled to one. There is sometimes also a private subscription, or
sweepstakes, amongst some of the members, for the best cock or hen bird that has

sl

not taken a prize, which has frequently amounted to ten guineas ; so that it is no
uncommon thing to divide between forty and fifty guineas for prizes on the shew-day.

This Society is now, and has been for some years past, held at Gray's Inn Coffee-
house, Holborn, London, on the first Tuesday in every month in the year, with
the exception of one or two, when the members are likely to be out of town.

I am aware, that in some parts of the country, Fanciers live at too great a distance
from each other to meet once a month ; but surely they could meet once a quarter,
and by forming theinselves into a society, showing their birds, &c. which would im-
prove their knowledge of the Almond Tumbler, and greatly facilitate the study of this
bird. I would here suggest that a society might be formed, open to all the world,
to show the best Almond Tumbler for the five properties, on one day in the year;
the meeting to take place in the most central part of the country—say Birmingham,
supposing it to be the most central for the London, Manchester, Liverpool, Scotch
and Irish Fanciers; but if not approved of—say London, or any other place;
taking care that there are facilities to get to and from, for it might not be
convenient for some gentlemen to stop, dine, and spend a cheerful day together
in conversation upon the Fancy.

It is not my intention to enter into particulars how a society of this sort is to
be carried out, it may be done by subscription, or by Fanciers having to pay
a certain sum on the entering of each bird competing for the prize, or both
combined. I have no doubt that many gentlemen who are not Fanciers, but
great admirers of the Almond Tumbler, would subscribe to carry out the object,
and have the gratification of seeing some of the best birds under the Sun.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

Isincerely hope that I should be the last Fancier to instil into the mind of
the amateur, (provided I had the ability, or more ptoperly speaking dishonesty)
how to make up a bird; nevertheless I could not conscientiously pass over without
informing you of your priveleges. You have a right to cut or shorten the beak
to the end ot the quick, and to scrape the sides of the beak with a sharp instrument,
or broken glass, to show it off to the greatest advantage; at the same time, you
have no right to cut or scrape through the quick; if by accident, you should do
so, the bird would not die, yet the experienced Fancier will discover it. The
cause of my mentioning this circumstance is, that the young Fancier should not
be disheartened, and Jamenting that he cannot breed such short faced birds as
he sees; but from his want of knowledge, he may look at the head and beak of birds
that have been cut to the end of the quick, and look at his own birds, whose
beak have been allowed to grow or run out, and he could have wished his own
birds were as short faced. It is possible it might be shorter, but he took his distance
for the one to the quick, and the other to the end of the horn. I hope I have
said enough here to open the eyes of the amateur, without giving offence to
the more experienced, or practical Fancier.

The young Fancier has also the right to pluck or withdraw any objectionable
feather, provided he keeps the bird in his own aviary or loft, but has no right to
show it for feather; but if he does, it may be discovered, and if he has done
so by way of selling the bird, it amounts to a fraud; this is what is called
in the Fancy, weeding, or gardening.

In your time you may hear some things that will appear strange, and greatly
surprise you, listen to their remarks, but I caution you not to repeat them, unless
you have been an eye witness. It is possible you may hear of the making up of
birds; I believe the only properties that it 1s possible to alter is Feather, Head,
and Beak. The feather we will take first, by plucking or withdrawing any
objectionable feather, called weeding. or gardening }“ secondly, the head, as [I
have heard it stated, by employing caps, placed on the heads of young birds in
the nest to grow to. Itis possible it might have been tried, but as I never saw it

33

done I discard it and throw overboard as unworthy of belief. But last, the beak ;
notwithstanding the above remarks as regards feather and head, there are some
few Fanciers, of whom it is asserted they make the beak, (which is so much
admired), by breaking the upper mandible when the bird is a few days old; but it
may be detected, from the injury it has received, similar to our own flesh, when
we have received a severe pinch; it may also be detected in the bird when grown
up, by the position of the beak, it has an unnatural appearance, the beak pointing
upwards. Having made these remarks, (the reason I shall inform you by-and-bye,)
I again caution you, my young Fancier, not to make a charge by hearing, or even
reading this Treatise, but keep a still tongue and put the question to yourself,
how it is possible that you might discover a bird made up as regards head and
beak. I informed you just before that the beak hagan unnatural appearance of
being thrust upwards, which is the opposite of its natural tendency, and likewise
at the same time appearing as though thrust further back into the head; but I will
endeavour to give you a better rule or criterion to judge by,—my €xperience
teaches me that these tricks cannot be played upon the head and beak of the
Almond Tumbler, without greatly distorting the eye, making it appear very
unnatural and greatly offending the eye of the Fancier; it appears as though it
was a weak watery eye, always winking and blinking: at the same time should
you, on looking at a bird, believe tricks have been played upon it, but has a full
bold beautiful fair eye, I think you would be drawing a wrong conclusion, and if
the bird was for sale, you are not bound to buy it, being in doubt.

There are Fanciers who have time on their hands, scarcely ever look at their
young birds in the nest, but have got into the habit of stroking the beak upwards;
If they do nothing more than this I do not find fault; but I know it is the very
contrary of what I do, being determined to see what the beaks will come to ina
natural way; owing to this and having very fine beak birds, I should not think
there was a Fancier who bred more cross or wry beaks than myself. It is not the
fault of the Almond Tumbler, but of the Fancier, in not keeping the beak straight,
for they are not hatched crooked or awry, but are wrenched by the feeding of the
old ones, and those beaks that we see crooked it shortened and pared to the end of
the quick, would look very different. If I examined a crooked beak bird, and saw
by trimming its beak to the quick, if it did not exceed five-eighths of an inch, or
a little over, [ would as soon breed from or sooner, than from a straight beak bird
that I knew nothing about; well knowing how easy it is to keep the beak straight
while the bird is young and the horn is sufficiently pliable, but will not answer for
an old bird, as the horn is hard and brittle, and in the attempt to bend would snap
off. I do not know that it it is possible to make up the head of an Almond
Tumbler, but this much I do know, that it would be utterly impossible to produce
first-rate birds from such. The cause of my making these remarks is, you may
suppose that the Fanciers of the present day had not heard of these reports, and
this is the reason of its appearing in this Treatise, for I do not like writing on such
a dishonest subject, and as I informed you before, that if I possessed both ability
and dishonesty combined, I would not instruct you how to make up a bird; the
only way I know of making a good bird is to breed it from two first-rate birds.

I believe there are Fanciers at this time whose judgment of the Almond
Tumbler has never been surpassed. and is not likely to be eclipsed; yet it is
ossible that the head and beak Fanciers of the present day may persevere in
brcetis such short-faced birds, as to enable the young and rising Fanciers to
breed birds whose distance shall not exceed the half-inch from the iris round
the pupil of the eye to the end of the quick on the beak. I have some in

|. my possession as short-faced as I have ever seen, but I never witnessed more
| than two or three birds whose “Head and Beak,” as it is called, did rot exceed
| the half-inch in the whole course of my life. Still, I believe in the course of

‘| a few years, that the head and beak will be shortened, and that half-inch
|| distance birds will not be so rare, or considered so great a curiosity as they

{| are at the present time.

When you are goig your round at six o’clock in the evening to see if eggs are
laid, observe at the same time the eggs that you expect to be hatched on that day;
if they are not sprung or chipped, place the egg to your ear, and if you hear a brisk
crackling noise within, put the eggs into your mouth, one after the other, and well
saturate them with your spittle, repeat this, and it is to be hoped as the shell dries
and becomes brittle that it will burst and let out a little wonder! I particularly
cautioned you to know the day the eggs were to hatch, and that without doubt.
If I was in your aviary or loft with you in the evening, and you showed me a pair
of eggs that you believed were to hatch that day or the following day, if these eggs
had not sprung or chipped, and on putting the eggs to my ear did not hear so
brisk a noise in the shell, I should conclude it was to-morrow. It is said
to-morrow never comes, but it comes a day too late for you when you find the two

birds dead in their shells.@ I am convinced that better head and beak birds have \

perished in the shell than ever were hatched, the reason is the amazingly short-
faced bird cannot reach the shell with its beak, and perishes in the shell, if the

judgment of the Fancier does not extricate it; while, on the contrary, the bird _
that only comes out to be killed by a good Fancier, (I allude to the rough long- © *

faced bird), soon sticks its beak through the shell, and extricates itself.

Owing to my being pressed for time in preparing this Treatise for publication, I
neglected entering into my register the days on which the eggs ought to be
hatched, and which has given me both trouble and loss. I will give you two
instances of this:—On looking at the eggs, that I knew by my experience were
near hatching, I discovered an egg with a large hole in it, the bird alive, strong,
and hardy, I considered it was to all appearance time it was out of the shell, I
gently dented the shell of the egg all round with my finger nail, it bled profusely,
and I placed it back in the nest pan with the other egg, which was addled. At
four o’clock next morning I looked to see if the young bird had extricated itself
from the shell, the blood had caused the broken shell to adhere closely, and my
opinion is, that the parent birds had set heavily, so that it appeared to me as
though the bird and shell were jammed together, and the bird apparently dead.
I took it to the light, and the fresh air caused the bird to open its mouth, I then
extricated it from the shell, but the bird only lived a few hours. In this case
I considered that I was a little too fast. In the evening of the same day, on
looking at the eggs that I considered were near hatching, and placing some to my
ear, I found one egg with the young one within making a sharp crackling noise,
this egg not being sprung or in the slightest degree chipped, I could not perceive
where the beak was placed, and recollecting that I condemned myself a few hours
before for being too fast, placed the egg back, and at four o’clock the next
morning, on again placing the egg to my ear, all was quiet and has remained so
ever since. I then blamed myself for being too slow. I would caution you
against being too fast or too slow, and my advice to you is to “ Remember the
Seventeenth” day from laying the last egg. I lost these two birds from a little
neglect, not having entered in the book the day on which the eggs should have
been hatched, owing to my time being so much occupied as before alluded to. Had
I known for certain, that in the first case I have mentioned it was only the
“ sixteenth ” day from laying the last egg, I might have been more cautious how
I dented the shell, and in the second case, if I had known that it was the
“eighteenth” day from the laying the last egg, I would not have hesitated in
breaking off a small portion of the shell, where to the best of my judgment the
beak lies, to let in a little air.

The idea struck me of communicating to you how many hours a bird will live in
the shell without being sprung, chipped, or a small hole made in the shell to let in
air. Iam fearful that the Printer will require this part before I shall be able to
define it to my own satisfaction, but I am convinced that it is not long before, or
otherwise the bird will be suffocated in the shell ; but a bird may live comparatively
speaking a considerable time in the shell, where the beak has protruded through
the shell and obtains air.

i
eee Se
‘ b—

The greatest difficulty you will have to encounter with, is when the birds have
set their full time, viz. the seventeenth day from the laying the last egg, and when
you place it to your ear a sharp crackling noise is heard from within the shell,
by the bird endeavouring to extricate itself, and yet the egg is not sprung, or the
least rise on the shell to shew you where the beak lies; under these circumstances
I would advise you to put it back for an hour, in the hope that it will become
visible where the beak lies, and when you examine the egg again, if you can
perceive the rise where. the beak lies, pick off a little of the shell on that part to
let the young one have air. On the contrary, should it so happen that you
cannot by any possibility discover where the beak is, and placing the egg to your
ear, you believe that it does not make so brisk or sharp a crackling noise as before,
it is a certain sign that the bird is becomlng more weakly, that its short beak
cannot by any possibility reach to puncture the shell, and that it will be dead in a
short time, if it does not immediately receive air ; under these circumstances the
young Fancier must make a small hole, to the best of his judgment, where he
supposes the beak lies.

Of the two evils—“ A little too Fast, or a little too Slow,” I should advise you
to choose the little too Fast ; but, remember, I said “little,” and the better to rivet it
on your mind, would say “very little.” The greater part of this trouble may be
avoided by a little care onthe part of the Fancier, by recollecting the “seventeenth
day,” and. letting. the birds have good warm nests, which will greatly assist in
hatching the eggs; but with regard to the particularly short-faced birds, whose
beaks cannot by any possibility reach the shell, it is otherwise, and no fault of the
Fancier. He must pay great attention, by observing the eggs that are hatching,
to endeavour to ascertain where the beak lies, and when he is necessitated to
puncture a hole in the shell of an egg where the beak is not visible, he should use
the greatest caution.

It will not answer to put an egg into your mouth that is much chipped, or
more properly speaking, a little smashed, owing to the old birds having set too
heavy on the eggs, and the blood within will cause the shell to adhere so tight
to the bird; in this case the young Fancier must exercise his judgment, how
far he can judiciously and with care (where the smashed shell is dry) pick it off.
Again where a bird has sprung the shell, which is always where the beak lies,
and the bird appears fixed so tight in the shell that it cannot move about, take
a drop of sweet oil, after picking off the shell, if not already off, passing it between
the head and the shell, by which means it will be greatly assisted in extricating
itself, and many a valuable bird may be thus saved. The cause of my writing
thus much on this subject is, that if you are not careful you will lose the birds
most desired to be saved, as my experience teaches me, that if the bird to be
hatched on the last day (that is the seventeenth from the laying of the last egg)
is not out of the shell by the eighteenth day, it must be under particular circum-
stances that I would leave it there so long; I should not expect to see it out alive.
But this requires great judgment. To the best of my recollection, I never heard
the bird alive, in the shell, more than twenty-four hours, or so long; and if the
beak does not puncture the shell—or you, to let in a little air, the bird is suffocated
in the shell.

There are Fanciers who take the eggs from the Almond two or three days before
hatching, and place them under a pair of their feeders—such as baldheads or
beards which set closer, consequently hatching sharper than the Almonds. It is
done by placing the eggs of the Almonds under the baldheads or beards, and vice.
versa; and when the Almonds eggs are hatched, then exchange again. At the
same time, it does not follow that their soft meat, or food, is up; although they
have set their time—seventeen days. It sometimes happens that their soft food
does not come on for two or three days after; nevertheless, you must get them
fed from somewhere, otherwise they will perish. It would be uncharitable in me
to expect the young Fancier will know all at once; experience keeps a dear school,

and the most experienced Fanciers that ever lived, had more or less to learn in
this school. Some of the Almonds do not set close, particularly the old and
valuable ones (why I say old and valuable ones, had they been otherwise they
would have been discarded) ; besides they do not appear to have sufficient heat
in their bodies to hatch their eggs. When this is discovered, you had better set
their eggs at the commencement under feeders, that have laid at the same time,
by exchanging their eggs; and this must not be done in a forgetful manner. You
may always know when you begin to understand the birds, whether their soft food
is on or not, by trying the craw or crop of the birds, and if on, it appears soft and
pappy ; on the contrary, hard, but will come on in a few days.

When I get a little nonpareil out of the shell, I am lost in wonder and astonish-
ment how I shall get it fed. I have heard it stated that there are Fanciers who
keep doves to feed their short faced birds, and 1 am assured that they feed well,
and longer than the pigeon. As I never tried I do not know; but if they will
many a valuable short faced bird would be saved. . I have before now been placed
in such a difficulty with a particularly short, faced bird, that after trying half a
dozen pair of birds that had hatched at the same time, and yet could get none
of them to feed it. I have thought that if 1 had canary birds hatching at the same
time, I would have tried them ; and if they fed it for a day or two, then have
placed it under pigeons to bring it up. It may be worth trying doves, as they
have eight broods a year. The shorter faced your feeders the better, I think they
ought not to exceed six-eighths ; for if you feed with strong, long-faced, take for
example a dragon, one inch and a quarter, or one and a half, you will observe
when the little short-faced birds leave their pans, and if very hungry, chase the
old ones either in their penn, aviary, or loft, and in their haste to obtain food will
thrust its head into the old bird’s mouth, or comparatively speaking, down its
throat, to meet the food, by which means the young bird’s head is flattened, (being
soft at the time), quite the contrary of what could be desired, a lofty head; it
therefore follows, that by having long-faced feeders, you flatten the head and
wrench the beak; but on the contrary, having short faced feeders the young ones
cannot thrust their heads into their mouths, neither will the beaks be so wrenched.
If the owl pigeon was not so shy, I should prefer it for a feeder. But short faced
hardy blue tumblers, beards, or baldheads are very good.

There are some few Fanciers who would not shift oftener than once, neither
would I, provided I thought it safe to trust to that shift to finish the birds; but
as I do not, I shall write my remarks :—I approve of shifting the young birds at
six days; yet giving the old ones an older bird to draw off their soft food, which
they generally do in about ten days. It is evident by this that. their soft food
- 4g not off; but the danger of their being off the young ones a considerable time,
suffering them to die of cold, with their crops full, while the old ones are calling
to nest again. In your experience you will find as many or more die of cold
crammed full, than those that are not fed, and the reason is this: that they require
warmth by being sat on, as much or more than they do food. I think crammed
as they are, and the food getting chilled or. cold, is the cause that accelerates their
death. I give the young birds another shift when they are twelve or thirteen
days old, under a pair of feeders that have fed three or four days, for the sake of
warmth ; and now my last shift, however well apparently, the pair of birds feed
that have the shift of the birds twelve days old, you will have to ask yourself
the question will this pair of birds finish them, by feeding four weeks till they
can feed themselves—it may, or it may not be so. You cannot help your thoughts
on this or any other subject; but as I do not think it safe, I endeavour for the
last shift, to get them at twenty-one days old under a pair of good tempered birds,
(for there is a vast difference in their tempers) after they have fed a week or so;
calculating that they will feed them well for three weeks, which will finish them
and by this time they will feed themselves. ;

36

6

My experience teaches me that I can take extreme cases, and I will give you
two that happened, one in my aviary, the other in my loft:—I had a black mottle
that picked up the tares, and fed well for three weeks; but at five weeks it left
off feeding itself, and. as it had lost all idea of being fed, it died. The other
happened in my loft where I flew my feeders, a pair of short-faced red agates,
bred from Almonds, which would not learn to feed themselves, although would
fly round with the feeders, they were fed by one or another in the loft, until they
would feed them no longer, and they both were starved to death at two months
old. These are not the rules but the exceptions; sometimes it happens that you
experience difficulty in shifting a bird so old as three weeks. I am aware that
it is easier for the last shift, to shift them at seventeen or eighteen days, the
feeders taking to them more kindly. When you shift the birds that have grown
pretty old, comparatively speaking, do not let the old birds come and take a
sight of them, for here you would witness a strange scene at times, but put the
hen upon the young. And it is infinitely better to shift these large birds, at
dark, or as near dark as possible, and be sure to put the hen on, and in the
morning she will not discover the exchange, or else be reconciled to it; it is very
important to change at dark and put the hen on. Should the colours of the birds
shifted vary much, my experience teaches me that it is not so much in the size
of the bird as the colour—was it it not for the fighting attitude the bird puts itself
into at about three weeks—therefore you will see the propriety in shifting these
large birds at dark. Generally speaking, it would not do to exchange under your
feeders a young white bird, where before they had a black one; and the reverse
by shifting a black one, where before they had a white one; the result would
very likely be, that a good tempered pair of feeders after looking at and going
from it many times, might at last take to it : while the ill tempered pair would
kill it at once. You will see the impropriety of shifting colours differing so
widely ; but endeavour to shift by giving the colour as near as possible.

It is important in your shifting that your nest pans should be the same size
and height; for if before your feeders had a nest pan only two inches high, and
in your shifting you gave them a pan four inches high, the one comparatively
they could walk into, while they would have to jump up to the other and would
cause them to be suspicious that all was not right, forsake the pan after killing
the birds, owing to a little neglect on your part. You will find it a good plan to
put the shifted birds into their pans,, till the feeders are reconciled to the birds
shifted, and then you can with safety exchange the pans if necessary, owing to
being dirty.

I observed before, the young ones vary much as regards feeding themselves
and here I will inform you of my method of treating the young birds to learn to
feed themselves. I have a penn two feet square and nine inches high, made of
strong wire, the wires not more than one inch anda quarter apart, for the birds
will get out if further apart, the wires up and down, and no bottom to it, the floor
will form the bottom besides being easier to clean, Let it be wired over the top,
as it will give more light; I have mine made in two halves, owing to my aviary
being parted, but have an opening in the partition large enough to let a pigeon
through, by placing one piece on each side of the partition it again becomes a
square, then form within and without the wire-work a frame work of wood, one
inch and a half, making three inches together. There is not any need of its being
a fixture whether you have them in squares, or halves as I do, for then I can place
the half against the wall or any where else; you will find the advantage in having
them made in halves. Let this frame work be one inch and a half high from the
flooring where the wire work rests, and it will form a kind of trough, fill it up
with the best old tares, and at the same time so constructed that the water from your
carboys, fountains or other proper vessels, shall come within the wire work ; now
make all the old birds come to feed and drink where you fix thispenn. I informed
you before that there is not any fixed rule or time when the young birds will begin

87

to feed themselves, much will depend on the strength and forwardness of the birds,
otherwise, writing from observation, the hardy and forward ones ata month old
are more inclined to pick up than at a more advanced age ; therefore, it is policy
to look round your aviary or loft for these birds and place them inside the penn
constructed for them. You will now observe what I have been driving at, and
that is, the old birds coming to feed and water, taking care that they cannot get it
elsewhere, (only water on the days you allow them to wash,) teaches the young
birds to feed and drink.

It does not follow because you have placed them under this penn for the old
ones to teach them, that they will feed, but you must have your eye and judgment
upon them, and feel their craw or crops if it is filled out with food. To assist you
I will now suppose a Case, that you have brought down six young Almonds, their
ages differing a little, and placing them in a penn in the morning, between five
and six o’clock in the evening examine them by feeling their crops, which is easily
felt by your hand; should only one have fed full, leave it under the penn, and put
the other five back to their places from whence you took them, and the old ones
will fill them full for the night; repeat this plan, by putting them under the penn
in the morning, and if there is not sufficient food in them in the evening, place
them back from where you took them, continue this plan till they feed themselves,
which will prove my assertion, that while some birds will feed at a month, others
are not safe to be trusted at six weeks; be sure before you draft them off to
another place that they feed themselves, for it may turn out that they are fed
from old birds about the place (that have lost their young by death or being
shifted) through the wires of the penn, as some will feed any young ones about
the place, I have tried experiments by way of enticing them to eat, giving them
hemp, rape, wheat, &c, but I think these are bad, and often prevent their
feeding on tares, which is to be desired while they are young, of which I will
give you an instance; I bred a very rich bright yellow whole feather, beautiful
©, head and beak, I was very desirous of rearing it, and I decoyed it to feed
by giving it hemp, rape, wheat, and tares: it took to wheat, and would eat
nothing else ; it was now three months old, I was determined to break it off wheat
and that it should feed upon tares—it beat me, by dying, for it would not take to
tares ; nevertheless a little of these might not do harm. The best plan I ever
found was to get or, sift the tares as small as possible, put some in a small pipkin,
pour boiling water over them, and put them into the oven by the side of the fire
over night, and in the morning when the young birds were under the penn, I made
them a little heap of these tares (taking care that the old pigeons could not reach
them) as I supposed about the same warmth as though they had come from the
feeders, and the young birds would eat them freely while they continued warm.
J think you will find your interest in trying this. You will act unwisely if you put
the young birds into the places in the evening from where you took them in the
morning, provided they are full; for if they feed themselves keep them to it for a
week, and then if you can put the young into an aviary, loft, or parted place, to
prevent the old ones from worrying them, they will improve rapidly. The sooner
your young birds feed themselves the better, they are likely to be smaller, the
beak less wrenched, and at all events the head not less round.

You are not to expect the head of a bird at three months old, to appear as |
beautifully formed as a bird’s head that is three years old; for they oe |
more properly speaking, as it is termed by the Gentlemen of the Fancy,— |
«“ Make Up,” therefore it will be clear that you require time and experience to |
know these things. Again, the Almond Tumbler does not arrive at its highest |

itch of plumage till it has moulted three or four times; some will still increase
in beauty, while others will decline till they become mottled, splashed, or whole-
feather. I have now endeavoured to instruct you how to breed and rear the
Almond Tumbler. ;

38

There are some rich Fanciers who will stand at nothing as regards expence,
and where they breed on the floor, cut away the flooring to let in the nest pan
flush or nearly so, similar to the basin in wash-hand stands, It can be done in
any of the penns above, by letting the bottom of the pan come through the penn
below ; or you can have false bottoms to your penns. The cause of their adopting
this plan is, that some of the young birds are restless by some means, and get
out of their pans, and after rambling about in their penns, fall again into their nest
pans; on the contrary, if this plan is not adopted, the birds that could not regain
possession of their pan owing to being young, or badly fledged, and if the night
is cold, you would most probably find them dead in the morning. Many valuable
birds are lost, which otherwise would have been saved, had the former plan been
adopted. I donot approve of pitching boards projecting before the penns, but would
rather them made flush with the penns; for merry cocks would be pitching on any
of these boards, consequently being higher, would, if they did no further mischief,
tantalize or worry the birds to whom the penn belonged,

I think there is no occasion for a penn to be two feet square, it is larger than
there is occasion for and appears unsightly. I will endeavour to give you an idea
of what I think would look better, a penn two feet long, eighteen inches deep,
sixteen inches high in the clear, shifting fronts, the bottom of the door five inches
_ from the bottom of the pen, to prevent the young ones getting out; let the door-
way be open to the top, which will be eleven inches high; let it be ten inches wide
and placed in the centre of the penn, rabbetted and fastened with two buttons on
the outside, the bars not exceeding one inch and a half, mortised in to give a
neater appearance. Although Ihave shewn the advantages derived by sinking the
nest pans, I would still have a shelf half way between the top and the bottom of
the penn, just big enough and nothing to spare, with a hole in it to receive the pan,
and the birds to fly up on the edge of the pan, direct over the pan that is sunk in
the bottom of the penn, for it might be that the old ones were setting in the above
pans, while finishing off young ones below; the rail of the small door framing
forms the pitching board which is flush with the pen; this is one cause why I
approve of large entrances to the penns, but there is still another and greater, and
that is preventing them from striking the joints of their wings, greatly injuring
them, causing wens and crippling them for life. I should advise the young
Fancier to look round and see if there was any thing in the aviary or loft,
provided the bird flew or came in contact with; above all things have no sharp
edges, let every thing be rounded, even the door ways to your penns, or perches
in your aviary or loft, if you have any. My advice to you is to have as few
of these as possible, unless, ironically speaking, you are blessed with a wilderness
sort of place for your Almonds, and even then there is danger by a friend
but stranger to your Almonds, who might frighten and cause them to injure
themselves against these uncalled for and dangerous places. Although I said
strangers to your Almonds, it is possible might know more about the Almond
than you that are reading, or I that am writing this Treatise, still he is strange
to your birds.

I will suppose my birds would be dirty if T gave them a chance, I will set
my wits to work and defy them by removing every thing out of their way
which would in the slightest degree soil their plumage, I have my aviary and
loft scraped up twice a day, and would have it scraped up three times or
oftener if occasion required it; on the flooring in my aviaries and lofts, I have
eleven-inch deals, sawed into three equal widths, which is nearly three inches
and three quarters each, and fixing them edgways on the floors, about twelve
inches apart, now these boards being three inches and three quarters high from
‘the ground floor and as the pigeon is fond of resting upon something, prevents
“their tail and flight coming in contact with their dirt on the floor, provided
we would allow any to be there.

39

Some Fanciers have small deal boxes, similar to boarding-school boys boxes,
with a logger hole cut for the birds to go in and out at; it opens at the top, being
on hinges, to put in the nestpans or look at the young birds. I formerly used
pots in my loft amongst my feeders where I shifted the young Almonds; these
were pots similar in shape to a bee-hive; the dimensions were twelve inches high,
and ten in clear at bottom, witha flat knob at top to lift it up by; but without
any bottom, the flooring forming the bottom, with a logger hole five inches wide,
and reaching seven high from the bottom, I could place them anywhere on the
flooring of the lofé and put the nest pan under them. I used them also in my
penns with Almonds, which kept them very warm, but it is too troublesome to
lift off to look at a number of young birds. It did not answer amongst the feeders,
the young birds getting out and were killed by the birds in the loft. ‘

So much depends on the circumstances and spirit of the Fancier, and the
difference is so great between the prince and the peasant (although a spirited
Fancier) if it was their intention to prepare a place for the Almond Tumbler, the
prince might construct a place that would astonish those who are not Fanciers,
more than the Almond fumblers; while the peasant would be compelled, com-
paratively speaking, to breed in a rabbit hutch.

The Fancier best knowing how he is circumstanced for room, will be more
competent to mature his own plans; but having tiers of penns is decidedly the
best, as they can be made portable and shifted from one place to another.

I have found in my experience, that after taking great pains in the making of
good nests in the pans, that the birds going into other penns, robbing and destroying
each others nest, or by “calling” and making their nest otherwise than I could
have desired, that in a week after they had scarce a. bit-of straw left.in their pans;
now having many birds this annoyed me, and caused me to think how I could
alter it, and here I will inform you how, this season, I have constructed their nest.—
My pans are seven inches in diameter at the top, and four inches in depth (both
in the clear) but sloped inwards, the bottom of the outside five inches, that, they
may stand firm if placed on a shelf or the flooring; they are very stout, so, that
if a bird flew upon the edge of a pan it would not pull it over. I getrush matting
(which may be obtained at upholsterers or other shops) and placing the top of
the pan upon it cut it round, then getting fresh yellow deal sawdust that has the
‘turpentine in it, which the insects will not come near, take a pint of this and put
it into the pan, work it round, still maintaining the shape of the pan by a small
pan or wooden bowl, (I once heard a Professional Gentleman state that he made
the nest in the pans with his lapstone) and then carefully placing the rush matting
which will cover the saw dust, forming a lining within the pan, and at the same
time retaining the shape of the pan. :

While I was thinking of this plan, I had made up my mind to paste in the rush
matting, but fortunately for me, in placing it in the inside of the pan, found it
spring and adhere so closely that I abandoned the paste. It may be objected to by
some Fanciers that the rush matting would harbour the vermin, (they have no
right to be in the aviary or loft,) I believe the turpentine in the fresh yellow deal
sawdust would prevent that; and at the same time cause great warmth to the
eggs or young birds. If through your neglect you have allowed vermin in your
aviary or loft, you must exercise great care or the vermin will beat you. It is
otherwise with me, for I have declared war against and will exterminate them,
should the sawdust fail in keeping away the insects. I will, after having cut a
score or two of these rush mattings, place them one upon another in a pail, and
then getting the strongest tobacco water, pour it on the matting, letting it absorb
as much as it will, then taking them out and. putting a few bits of lath or stout
wire placed over the pail, placing the matting judiciously so as to drain into .the
pail that none of the tobacco water is lost (for you will find ample room ) for
economy in the breeding and rearing the Almond Tumbler), and when dry or
nearly so, place this over the sawdust and form the inner lining of your nest pan ;

and should the tobacco water drain into the sawdust so much the better. I think
this would effectually keep them from the nest pans, for it is to them anything
but a sweet savour. Nevertheless, if this should fail, they will drive me to argue
the cause with them; I will consider what will kill a young pigeon in the nest, or
one of these insects; and if there was not any other way left to exterminate the
vermin, I would rub a little of the blue ointment on that side of the matting that
comes next the sawdust—lI said ‘‘little”’ so as not to affect the young hatched bird,
a very little would do, and kill all that touch it, without the possibility of injuring
the young bird, for it is on the other side of the matting, and ifthe insects is on
the top side of the matting it will most assuredly pass through, where there will
be something that will give it a warm reception, and effectually kill it. Edo not
expect that you will be driven to such extremities, for I think you will find that
the sawdust, or the sawdust and the decoction of tobacco combined, will cause
the insects if any, to leave the birds that are setting, and get at the bottom
outside the pans. You will therefore perceive that it not only keeps the young
birds free from insects, but absolutely cleanses the old ones likewise during their
setting, It will be as well to put a little straw in the bottoms of their made-up
pans ; one reason is, they like to set on straw—and the other is, there may be a
doubt in your mind as to the injurious effect of the blue ointment; besides it
appearing as natural as any thing that I am aware of to the birds. I would not
on any account have the straw longer than six inches for the better laying in the
nest pans.

You will find your interest in it if you let them have on the floor a small round
basket, the wicker about one inch and a half a part, and filling it with straw as
before observed, six inches long, it teaches them to find their penns, they appear’
to take great delight in carrying it to their nest pans, and leave off robbing their
neighbours ; it is necessary at times to cast your eye round to see the nest pans,
for some few of the birds will carry so much straw to their nest, that it will surprise
you how it was that the eggs did not roll off, and if they hatched, the young
would be in great danger of falling off the nest, when this is discovered remove @
portion, still leaving them a good nest, for fear they should desert it; my pan may
likewise be objected to as being too deep, with the sawdust and matting I can
make it any depth, as oceasion requires.

I observed, in a former part of this work, how restless some of the young ones
were, and would get out of their pans and die of cold; might not this restlessness
arise from the belly ache? for why should not young pigeons have the belly ache
as well as other things? J have now the advantage in having deep pans, for I can
take the sawdust and matting away and putting a little straw at bottom will
confine them to their pans, for they could not get out of a pan four inches deep in
the clear; likewise, the pan being only seven inches diameter at the top, quite
large enough for Almond Tumblers, proves the advantages to be derived from
these snug pans. When the pans have become dirty and it is necessary to clean
them, lay hold of the rush matting and pull it out, serape it and lay it in the
tobaceo water, which will kill the vermin, should there happen to be any, dry it
and it will be ready for use again ; it will be advisable to turn the sawdust out of
the pan into the fire: now with respect to the cleansing of the pan, should there
be any insects in the porous parts of the pans, either in the inside or outside,
attempting to destroy them with clear water would be useless. I formerly used
(after my nest pans were washed) to place them in a large tub of tobacco water
which I obtained from the tobacco manufacturers, it being stronger than I could
make it, this effectually destroys the vermin and nits; some Fanciers wash their
pans with soda and water, others after washing the pans thoroughly clean, put
them into the copper amongst the soap-suds and soda after ‘a Great Wash,” as it
is called, not forgetting to give the fire an extra poke. If you make your nests
as I do with saw dust and rush matting, instead of putting a little straw on the top
of the matting use wormwood, a small quantity will do, and it will cause the

Al

insects to leave the nest; be careful in shifting young birds that you do not give a
pan with the nest made of wormwood where before it was made of straw, for from
the strong smell, the old birds may discover it ; but put a little in all the pans.

Whenever you shift young Almonds, be sure and put the number of the penn,
or a mark on the pan, by which you will know the pedigree of the young birds,
and as soon as pretty well feathered, enter them into a book kept for that purpose :
it is useless to attempt to trust to memory if you have a number of birds. You
will in your experience find that birds on some days would feed half a dozen
young birds, and other days not feed at all; and vice. versa. with other birds ; you
must therefore shift the pan with the young birds where they will get fed, otherwise
they will die; those old birds that did riot feed will sit on and keep the fed birds
warm, and feed well the next day; therefore you will perceive that it is quite
inimaterial where the pan is shifted to, having the number or mark on it; you
must also mark the pan when you give them a clean one, and should you be very
particular about your nest pans, or use pots to cover the nest pans, have a model
made at a turner’s, and take it to any pottery, they will make it to your pattern ;
have plenty of nests made in the pans, and by placing them one in another, say
twelve high, the weight and pressute forms them nicely—do not spoil a ship for a
halfpenny’s worth of tar, or else I leave you to guess what will follow. Iam ata
loss to know why I should have written so much on the subject of insects and
cleanliness, for my birds are not allowed to be dirty, unless it is to put you upon
your guard against them. The plan I have adopted with regard to making the
nests in the pans with matting, sawdust, and wormwood, this season, has answered
the purpose beyond my utmost expectations.

You will have observed in a part of this work, treating on the marks by which
to ascertain the éolours of young birds in the nest, if the beak has no mark on it
but is quite white, the bird will be an Almond; this is true and false at the same
time: the Almond will have a white beak, and the white Agate coming from
Almonds, also will have a white beak, but the experienced Fancier will, at a few
days old, discover whether it is ar Almond or white Agate, arid so will you my
young and inexperienced Fancier. For it is all plain to him who understands,
and I will inform you how to discover it,—look at the eye or eyelid, if a white
Agate it will appear ferrety, red, and fiery ; while the Almond will be the contrary.

The other remarks as to the colour of the birds by the beak, my experience teaches »
ime is correct, and the Fancier who first discovered it must bave been a very close |
observer, and entitled to great credit. If you match extraordinary rich feathered |

Almonds together, you will breed more or less Agates, of various colours—
yellows, reds, &¢. some of these birds have beautiful pearl eyes; but if you breed
a pure white, which is still termed an Agate (owing to its coming from Almonds)
which rarely have pearl eyes, otherwise would be considered a curiosity, a proof
that you had matched your birds too high, as it is called.

I feel great pleasure in seeing how heartily my birds engage in washing them-
sélves, aiid should think that a bird was not well that did not wash with great
ea‘nestness ; if became possessed of a fresh bird, the first thing I should observe is
whether the bird took delight in washing ; and if not, should say to myself, this
is no favorite of mine, unless possessing some undeniable properties, for I cannot
endure a bird dirty in body with a scrubby flight and tail Deep earthen pans are
extremely dangerous, there being no foothold for the birds to get up the sides, and
many a good bird is drowned. [ will endeavour, my young Faneier, to guard you
against such a calamity, by informing you of the construction of my tubs for the
washing and cleansing of the birds, my tubs are twenty inches in diameter, six
inches high, both in the clear, with four steps all round the tubs equal distances
and one inch wide (similar to steps to go down into a bath or a staircase); and
should some of your pigeons stand low, and enter the tubs with avidity, and if
they get out of their depth, they rush to the sides and climb up the steps, otherwise
they would be drowned. ‘There is a small brass plug at the bottom of the tub te

42

jet off the water gently after washing, for you would find the tub and water heavy
if you attempted to turn it over, making a terrible mess, besides splashing yourself
in the bargain; take especial care that the waste water is drained off cleverly, so
as not to make the slightest mess in your aviary or loft; the tubs have lids to
cover over after washing, which forms a kind of pitching place for the birds ; let
the tubs be thick, or place a kind of beading all round the top of the tub about
three quarters of an inch wide; if you do not adopt this plan let the top of the
tub be rounded, (it is dangerous to have any sharp edges where there are Almonds)
for as the birds are coming out of the water after washing they rest upon the top
of the tub, which cleanses their flight and tail; if they should happen to draw
their wings on the floor, (this is called by the gentlemen of the Fancy drop wings) ;
in the greatest probability they would not do this if the top of the tub was sharp
and hurt their feet. 1 employed a plasterer to form the steps or stairs inside my
tubs for washing, who used compo, and it set as hard as stone; it is possible a
carpenter or cooper would accomplish it.

I believe few Fanciers ever tried so many experiments as I have, and, here. I
will give you one: —I considered if it was possible to put anything into their water
to clear their plumage, and at the same time to destroy the insect, if any were
there, without affecting the health of the birds when they drank it.. [consulted an
eminent chemist upon the subject, it was more than a dose for him; and therefore
I had to prescribe, which bothered me.a good while in thinking—at last a thought
came into my head that if I put soap into their water, believing that it would, not
hurt them if they drank it, but it might give them a gentle purge, (and recollecting
that some Fanciers adopt the plan of taking their shaving box and make a strong
lather, and then with their shaving brush rubbing the bird all over to destroy the
insects) I got half a pound of soft soap, put into a quart pot, filling it up with
boiling water, stirring it up to cause it to dissolve, leaving it in the pot the overnight
and then in the morning mixed it with the water they were to wash in; the birds
did not approve as I suppose the colour of the water and did not wash. I cannot
help thinking if I had acted more prudently, that when I had pulled out the plug
to let off the water after washing, then filling up the tubs again and putting in the
quart of soap and water, well mixing it, placing the lid over it to let it settle, and
keeping the birds an extra day back from washing, but what they would have
eagerly plunged into the water—however, I have not tried it. I would advise
that the birds should not have the water to wash in oftener than three times a week,
unless it is the hens that are parted from the cocks, for some of them are rank
sooner than the cocks; but it would not be judicious to match them up so early
in the spring, and by letting the hens have the water four or five times a week,
greatly cools them and somewhat prevents their calling to nest.

Should it so happen that your taste or fancy lies in having coarse, long-faced,
mousey-headed and fiery-eyed birds, then fly them by all means, and not only fly
them, but fly them hard, for the harder you fly them, the more rough and coarse
you make them. But if, on the contrary, you want them little wonders or
nonpareils, short-faced, lofty-heads with good stops, pearl eyes, fine beaks, and
less wattled, then above all things “ Do not let them fly.”

As regards loam, spare neither pains or expense to get it as good as possible, and
soak it in brine, which you can get from your butcher; turn it out to dry, and
then only let your pigeons have it during the breeding and feeding season,
believing that it is a great help to old ones in assisting them to feed their
young, besides I believe in a measure preventing putrescence in the throat of
the young birds; the brine in the loam, I think, sharpens the appetite of the old
birds, and I know causes them: to drink more, which I think assists the feeding
of young birds; besides the brine or salt cleansing the throat or craw of the
young birds. I let my birds have it only during the breeding season.

I cannot see the utility of mortar where the birds have loam soaked in brine,
besides having gravel and grit ; on the contrary, I have experienced in my birds

43

the loss of many an eye through it. Formerly I used to give my birds crushed
mortar, and some of them having weakly eyes, I examined them, when there did

not appear the slightest sign of a peck from other birds, but appeared weakly, as_

though dust. was in them; I washed them with alum and other eye waters, some
of them baffled me, and the birds lost their sight. I-began to suspect there was
something wrong, and, after consideration took away the mortar, the result taught
me that I had removed the cause.

Gravel or grit is absolutely necessary ; my birds have always gravel. I think it
would be an inprovement in getting the grit or small stones that are washed up
after a storm or dry windy weather, by the paths or gutters, and taking half
gravel and half grit, mix it together ; my object in this is, that some of the gravel
is so fine, not possessing sufficient little stones, which are so essential to assist in
grinding and digesting their food. In giving them gravel and grit this must not
be done in a careless or slovenly way, or you may experience what I complained
of as regards the eye; for where there is a number of birds flying about the aviary
or loft, and coming in contact with gravel and grit causes the dust to get into
their eyes, but place the gravel and grit out of their way in flying.

There is scarcely any thing that I would sooner call your attention to, than
not to allow, if possible, a single particle of dust in your aviary or loft. I
would not have the gravel or grit in my aviary or lofts was it not absolutely
necessary, and it is placed very cautiously, after my aviary or lofts are well
scraped and swept. It will take you some years before you have tried as
many experiments as I have—some to my sorrow, but would occupy too
large a space here to give an account of all the results.

With regard to their food, I think there cannot be two opinions, but that
beans, unquestionably are the best food possible to give the Almond Tumbler,
(provided you can procure them small enough) and I would give them nothing
else, even through the breeding season, running the risk of choaking a few
young ones in the nest, provided I could get all the old ones to feed upon
beans, but as some of the very short-faced breeders will not, you are under
the necessity of letting them have tares as well, Let your beans and tares be
old, and of the best quality that money will purchase, for it will be cheap in
the end to you. If the laying out of money is not a consideration to you, and
if you ever saw a beautiful sample of very small beans (although new) buy
them and lay them aside for two years, and it will more amply repay than
laying down wine, or money in the funds. The food next to best small beans, is
sound old tares, and prime hard peas; old wheat is nourishing and fattening. It
is well to give your birds a change of food, particularly when they are feeding
their young, they eat more and feed their young better ; but small hard beans
invigorates, braces up, and makes your birds hardy.

I will inform you the manner in which I feed and water my birds, after trying
all kinds of hoppers, or other utensils, I found the most simple way the best ;
I informed you that I parted my aviary. I have pieces of wood five feet long,
one inch and a half high, placed parallel with the partition, not exceeding two
inches distance from the partition: should you find that one inch and a half is
enough so much the better, it prevents the birds dirtying the food; there are
pieces of wood at each end the width you have it—no bottom, and not a
fixture, that you may be better able to free it from dust at times, ‘and by placing
bits of wood you can make as many partitions as you please, and give them various
kinds of food in the partitions, such as beans, tares, peas, &c, &c. likewise gravel
and grit; there is no top or board overhanging it as there is to a hopper, but
it is more lightsome, which is an important thing on dark days, amongst the short
days. :

With respect to the manner in which I water my Almond Tumblers, I am fearful
I shall give you a lame account; I use a kind of earthen carboy with an earthen

- = ares <= = = 7
q

44

stand to ‘receive it, (they are both made at the same time at the pottery,) which
has holes all around it for the birds to put their heads in to drink out of; it is
a clever contrivance, for when I give them fresh water, turning the carboy
upwards, the stand receives it; it is easily filled, and prevents the making a mess
on the floor. It appears to me that the makers of these drinking utensils have
left off making these things, as I cannot possibly obtain one, any more than I
can loam pots. Some F anciers use a stone bottle and making a hole the height
they wish their birds to drink from, say one inch and a half from the dish in
which you place this bottle. You must make it air tight at top, by placing a bung
in, and sealing wax it over; but it is apt to make a mess on the flooring by filling
it. You can get a stand made of hoop iron, with three or five legs to come into
the dish from which the birds drink, and should the legs not be sufficient to
prevent the birds from dirtying the water, which is very important, have a few
wires affixed to the stand and make the birds drink through them. Carboys, which
can be obtained of the chemist, the size according to the number of birds you keep,
and having a stand judiciously made is avery good thing, otherwise a three-legged
stool ; but whatever you use, keep the water clean and sweet. These are the most
simple, and at the same time the best way I have discovered in feeding and
watering my birds, besides their partaking of their food and water clean. I have
an opening in my partition for the carboy to be placed in the centre, that the birds
on either side of the aviary may drink out of the same utensil.

I have observed the great difference in the feather of two birds, the one fed
upon beans and the other upon tares ; the plumage of the bird feeding upon beans
would be rich, bright, and shining—while the other, feeding upon tares, on the
contrary, would appear dull, cold, and without any gloss on the feather; the
inference I draw is, that beans are to the plumage of the Almond Tumbler, what
nitre is to the horse’s coat.

It is admitted by all Fanciers that spring water is best for their drink, while
soft water is better for them to wash in. I was desirous, if possible, to put some-
thing into the water to make it more stringent and bracing, without injuring the
birds, I consulted my old friend the chemist, if he would inform me how I could
carry my plan into effect, I shall never forget how emphatically he answered me,
(looking round the premises at the same time), by saying there was nothing in his
warehouses that would so effectually answer the end, as putting into the water a
handful of rusty old screws; this 1 have adopted with great advantage, with the
addition of a few lumps of chalk. Some put a handful of green rue into their
water, this may be very well, but if you let it remain too long it will become
stinking and furr the fountains, or whatever utensil they drink out of. Especial
attention must be paid to keep the water sweet and clean, in the first instance to
have the utensil from which your birds drink, scalded and kept thoroughly clean ;
do not let them have more water than will last them one day, and let it be so
constructed that the birds cannot by any possibility get into it to wash (which they
certainly will do if not prevented) and make it dirty. There cannot be a doubt
but that some of the diseases which unfortunately take place in the Almond
Tumblers of some Fanciers, arise entirely from a want of cleanliness on the part
of the owner of these birds, the putrid state of the water produces the canker in
the old birds, by the slime adhering to their beaks.

I object, for fear of adding to this fatal disease, (however clean their aviary or
loft may be scraped and swept up), of making a constant practice of feeding the
Almond Tumbler by hand, as it is called, of throwing the food on the floor, only
letting the birds have as much food as they will pick up ata time. The argument
in its favor is, as some assert, that it keeps the bird sharper, and that it will eat
with greater avidity ; even if this was true I should object to it, for however clean
the floor of the aviary or loft might be, when you begin to feed them by hand, some
of the birds would dung at the time of feeding, and the beans and tares mixing
with the dung might cause or accelerate the canker or other diseases. I am fully

45

sensible that you cannot avoid occasionally feeding them on the floor, as for instance,
if the mornings were exceedingly cold, or the birds deep in moult, you would be
desirous'that all your birds should share alike when you gave them hemp seed to
warm and make them comfortable, for it would be unwise to give them a hopper
fall as you could wheat; under these circumstances you would be obliged to throw
it upon the floor as the birds eat it up, taking care that if the birds dung while
eating, not to throw any near that place. I will now return to the subject of their
drink. Years back I put rue into their water, I fancied they did not like the rue,
and I know they did not drink so much. It may be that I made it too bitter and
overdid this as everything else, (prior to my attempting to write a treatise on
the breeding and management of the Almond Tumbler, and in this I have caught
a tartar.) There is not the shadow of a doubt in my mind, provided I had the
ability, strictly adhering to truth, derived from observation that I should overdo
this treatise also; but unfortunately for me, I see no fear of that owing to my want
of ability, and therefore my young and inexperienced Fancier you must take the
will for the deed by having it under-done.

As a preventive is acknowledged to be better than a cure, and having endeavoured
to instruct you how to keep your pigeons free from diseases by cleanliness and
good management. 1 should not have called your attention to the subject of their
complaints if it was not to have mentioned a case that happened in my aviary,
I had a celebrated black mottled cock (well known by many gentlemen in the
Fancy by the name of “ the schoolmaster”) and it was seized with a violent attack
of vertigo, or meagrims ; not knowing what to do! put it into a round open wicker
basket, and took it to one of the most experienced gentlemen in the Fancy, living
at Highbury, he said that in all his experience he never had seen one so “ drunk,”
as he called it, and advised me to put it in the dark. I thought it stood in need
of something more than putting it in the dark, so taking it to my friend, the chemist,
and showing him the bird, we consulted what to do, and came to the determination
that if the bird did drink, it should drink that which the chemist prepared for it,
as it should have nothing else. The bird did not like the preparation, but thirst
beat it and not being able to get anything else, was compelled to drink when it
became thirsty, and that freely; it continued in this state about a fortnight
without appearing to get better: it pained me to see it in this condition, and very
late one night, or early in the morning, after attending a show, and being assured
that there was not any cure for it, and if there was, the chances were so great
against its breeding, that under these circumstauces I made up my mind to kill it.
While dressing myself in the morning I heard my groom coming down stairs, and
ordered him to kill the bird; but before he got to the bottom of the stairs to the
kitchen, where the bird was kept by the fire, I called out to him not to kill it till
{ had seen it, we both looked at it (for he was a good fancier) and thought it
better, we shook the basket and the bird kept on its feet, from this time the bird
gradually improved and became as well as ever.

There was something rather remarkable about the hen that I matched to this
cock. A Fancier, whom I knew, and am sure he wished me well as a young Fancier,
called upon me one evening at my house, and stated that he had a black mottle
hen, so good that he could not afford to buy acock that was a match, and should
like me to have the hen, for he was sure that it would do me good; I purchased
it, and being very green in the Fancy, took it to a Grand Show, and put it in the
penn to hear its merits or demerits, for I knew as much about the properties of
the bird, as the bird knew about me, being so “ Raw”’ in the Fancy at that time;
the first remark that was made was by one of the most spirited, and I believe not
second best, with regard to his judgment, to any Fancier living; his remark was,
as soon as I placed the bird in the penn, ‘‘I will give you fifty shillings for that
black mottle hen,” I did not expect to hear that, and therefore reasoned silently
that if the bird was worth to him fifty shillings with his great experience, what
must it be worth to me? Being desirous of making progress in the fancy, I there-
fore declined parting with the bird, although a still higher price was offered.

46

Looking ‘back to my early days in the Fancy I am sure of this, that I oftener got a
good bird by accident than by judgment: besides the inexperienced Fancier, when
he becomes experienced, can recollect how he has been treated by Fanciers, who
ought rather to have encouraged any young Fancier than otherwise. Having
occasion to have some alterations in my aviary and lofts, amongst the workmen
there was a carpenter who was a flying Fancier, and on shewing him my birds
when we came to the black mottle hen, he said, “ You bought that of Mr. Res
L asked him, how he knew that? He said he had sold it to him for half a crown, as
it did not fly well with his bald-heads, that a charwoman, knowing that he kept
pigeons, had brought) it to him to see if he would buy it, and he gave her one
shilling for it. She said that she had picked it up, while it was eating the oats
from some horse-dung in the Holloway Road, one bitter snowy winter’s morning ;
that the poor bird was nearly starved, and might have perished, had not this good
woman have saved it. There’ is not the shadow of a doubt but that this beautiful
black mottled hen had made its eseape from some good fancier’s aviary or loft in
Holloway or the neighbourhood ; the bird could not fly well, owing to having
been confined.

Now, from the cock that would have been dead in two minutes after I had
ordered it to be killed (had I not called out) and which I cured of the Vertigo,
and the hen nearly lost in every sense of the word, I obtained my strain of black
mottled tumblers, which I believe is not surpassed by that of any other Fancier
‘ living. My young Fancier, I have two objects in view, in informing you of
this, the first is not quickly to despair of curing. a bird; and the second is, that it
is possible you may obtain a first-rate stud of birds, even through accident, if you
will only persevere and become A. 1. in the Fancy.

With regard to the canker, it arises from dirty feeding and putrid drinking, of
which the unclean Fancier ought to be ashamed, and it is to be hoped that he will
never do so any more. Ina former part of this work I called your particular
attention to cleanliness. Remove the cause that produces evils, and the effect
would follow. But the Fancier may say that this advice comes too late, for his
birds have got it, which nobody can deny ; this unfortunately being the case, I
will endeavour to instruct him how to cure it:—take burnt alum and honey, and
rub the part affected every day, and most likely it will be cured; should this not
have the effect, dissolve five grains of Roman vitriol in half a spoonful of best
white wine vinegar, add it to the former composition, and rub the part affected.
Or take half an ounce of burnt alum, half an ounce of gunpowder, a gill of best
white wine vinegar, and mix them well together, take one of your pigeon’s flight
or tail feathers that you will find about your aviary or loft, and anoint the part
affected ; and if even in the throat, you must use one of these prescriptions with
the feather, and anoint the inside of the throat, twice a day. - I do not object to the
raising the scurf, and cause 1t to bleed a very little where it can be got at, believing
it more effectual. I am aware that there are Fanciers who object to this, thinking
it searching enough without. You can try it without, and if it does not succeed,
then raise the scurf a little ; fortunately for me not having occasion to use these
prescriptions, I have never tried the burnt alum, gunpowder, and vinegar,
but entertain‘a high opinion of its effects, owing to the strong assurances I have
received from some of the best Fanciers. It is absurd and childish twaddle to assert
that the canker arises from the birds fighting; call things by their right name and
then I do not object. You may ‘say that the cocks fight, and get pecked on the
head; this is true, and if you like to call it sores on the head, I have no objection,
and if you apply the prescription, or use a little alum and water, will cure it, but do
not on any account say that it is the cause of canker, for if you do you assert any-
thing but the truth. ;

With cleanliness and care I think your birds will not be troubled with diseases,
besides the delight it will afford you of seeing your birds healthy, vigorous, and
elean; but if on the contrary— Woe be to you! Fanciers differ with regard to

Al

¢

the treatment of their birds, if unwell, some giving pills made of rhubarb, others
giving pills made of bitter aloes, my favorite pill is a compound of both. The way
I do is to take a good many at once, when they are not breeding I remove their
water overnight, and keep them some hours in the morning without, and when
I think they are very thirsty, give them their water as usual, with this difference :
dissolve some Epsom salts, and mix it with their water, they being very thirsty
will not discover it until after they have drank very heartily; I cannot tell you
what quantity to mix not knowing how many birds you intend giving it to; should
you have any birds in your aviary, or loft, that are scoured or purged, remove them
while the salts are in the water, if any is left, throw it away at night and let
them have their water as usual without any salts, then restore the birds that you
consider too loose.

I hinted before in a former part of this work that it was possible that I might
have over done some things, nevertheless on reasoning, I am not afraid of killing
a pigeon, which I would treat as mankind; I will suppose my having a stomach
full of hard old beans and a pigeon with a stomach full of hard old beans, and the
pigeon got rid of the beans before I did, (for ought I know the beans might kill
me), the inference I should draw was, that the pigeon was stronger, or at all events
its digestive powers, although I should not be alarmed for fear of killing an old
bird, 1 should act very cautiously where there were young ones, from one hour
to one week old, and not give the salts and water where these young birds were,
not knowing the effect; it might purge and kill them. If it was possible that in a
loft were there were no young birds under three weeks old, the feeders partaking
of the salts and water, and then feeding these big young ones, my opinion is, that
not any evil would arise, but on the contrary good, inasmuch as it might cleanse,
the craw, prevent canker in the throat, and cool the young bird which is very
hot, but freely purged, at the same time the Fancier can exercise his own judgment.

Peppercorns are very good to give to your old birds, or those that appear cold,
every other day, giving three or by no means exceeding four at a time. They
should be taken from the aviary or loft and judiciously placed near the fire for a
few days. In my experience if birds are kept too long before the fire they seldom
recover, for air is more important to their health than heat—but changes are
requisite at times. You will find in your experience some birds that may live
one or two years with you that are never hardy or vigorous, and will not match
up, but moping about and that even from the nest ; unfortunately it happens they
have some good properties about them, otherwise we should effectually cure them
by cutting off their heads. I consider more birds die of consumption, or wasting
away, than any other complaint, and that is a reason why I endeavour to keep my
birds fat. There is some little danger here, but not a tenth part to where the birds
waste away and die of a decline; sometimes it happens that a bird will fall from
its perch on the floor like a stone, and on picking it. up will be dead and as fat as
butter, no doubt the cause of it was the overflow of blood to the head, and might
be called apoplexy. The vertigo or meagrims arises from the same cause. If I
happen to be in my aviary, or loft, and a bird should fall off its resting place, or
taken in a fit, I plunge it into cold water as quickly as possible, and give it two
compound of rhubarb and bitter aloes pills. There cannot be a doubt but that
making a small puncture in the roof of the mouth to let out a little blood might
be attended with a good effect, as apoplexy, or vertigo, arises from too great a
fulness of blood in the vessels of the head; if you do not let blood, well drench
them with the pills.

There are many absurd things recommended for the cure of pigeons too numerous
to mention, I will give you one or two—such as spiders wrapped in butter. Where
would you find a spider in a genteel house, unless you went into the wine cellars,
and there your cobwebs are ornaments, as mirrors or glasses are to your drawing
yoom. - If there is any charm it arises from the butter ; then again giving them
three or four cloves of garlick. When I got garlick for my pigeons it so happened

e

that it was the first and last time, for when I had stripped it and came to
the clove, [ thought I would give it if I wanted to choak my bird, but not
having such a desire I refrained from giving it; likewise giving them a purge of
tobacco—these things are too troublesome. It is possible you might get the garlick
down the throat by quartering it, and then four cloves making sixteen pieces: a
pretty treat to a Fancier if he has anything else to do, or to crown all, get tobacco
water down their throats to give them a purge.

I am fully sensible that the Almond Tumbler Fancier has a great command of
temper and patience, but be need have the patience of Job to try these things.
My young Fancier, I have not the power or right to prevent you from trying all
you hear or read as to cures, but shall content myself with following my old
fashioned way of considering a preventive better than a cure. I am aware that
there are complaints over which we have no control—for instance : a bird even from
the nest never having a sound constitution, the vertigo or meagrims, fits, &.; but
if I have a bird very ill, from whatever cause, or bad eyes, &c, I take it to my friend
the chemist, and he treats it as he would you or me, and I should advise you, my
young Fancier, to do the same, and the sooner you take it after you have discovered
something wrong in the bird the better. According to your station in life, you
may have an intimate friend or companion a physician, surgeon, &c, and as they
are gentlemen by education, their good sense will teach them if you broach the
subject to them, that it was not intended to insult them. I cannot inform you,
otherwise I would, what it was that cured the black mottle cock of the vertigo or
meagrims, not considering it a fair question to put to my friend the chemist. Very
old tallow the size of a bean is an excellent thing for the roop, (whether it is the
wet or dry roop, which is a cold and cough,) put down their throat, heals their
breast, and eases their breath; and it is possible some good may arise from the
butter (but the spider ?)

It is possible, from reading this Treatise, that if two birds were in the penn, the
one a carrier, the other an Almond Tumbler, you might be able to discover the
Almond Tumbler, from the great difference of the birds, but when you come to
know that the one-sixteenth part of an inch excites the admiration of good Fanciers,
it is infinitely more appreciated, and greatly enhances the value of the bird. I
have endeavoured to root aud ground you in the most important things connected
with the Almond Tumbler, by calling your particular attention to the five properties
to breed a good bird; how to raise it by its food and drink, and then to preserve
it alive for nine, ten, or more years by good management and cleanliness, besides
other things connected with the management of the aviary or loft.

If you do not keep a man or boy to look after your birds, when you go into your
aviaries or lofts whatsoever you have to do, do quickly; not to saunter or idle
away your time as though to shew how lazy and sleepy you can be, but let “quick ”
be the word. It will avail you nothing, whether the Author thinks little or much
upon the subject, provided you do not think for yourself. If you have never
thought before, and the perfections or imperfections of the five properties of the
Almond Tumbler cause you to begin thinking, the Fancy will be a blessing to you,
for you cannot think hard or deeply on the Almond Tumbler, without thinking on
more important matters.

Should you, after reading this Treatise, be in doubt on the properties of an
Almond Tumbler, the only thing left me to do is, to advise you to look to the
Portrait at the beginning, to guide your judgment in the choice of such birds as
are likely to be of service to you. With my Friends I have often stated it to be
my intention to write a Treatise on the Almond Tumbler, I abandoned it, after
finding it was my master-piece ; but the Exhibition, comparatively speaking, in
everybody's mouth; I could not take up a newspaper, periodical, or any new
work, without its appearing to me all Exhibition: that some of the people of All
Nations were about to exhibit something, I thought I should like to Exhibit too;

49

Tumbler, at the time of Exhibiting, for these reasons
municating to you.

suggest, has the perusal of the foregoing pages been the

°

and satisfaction as I have myself enjoyed.

Almond Tumbler, is the sincere wish of

FINIS.

W. A. Wright, Printer, 9 and 10, Fulwood’s Rents,
Holborn, London.

‘ut what to exhibit bothered me: after some little consideration the idea struck
me of the Almond Tumbler, believing that the people of All Nations had not
contemplated bringing out a work of this kind, and that it would be too bad not
to present the young and inexperienced Fancier with a Treatise on the Almond
I would make an attempt
even should I fail; when the work is printed, and I come to read it over, I expect
to be vexed, owing to omissions, which I should have had great pleasure in com-

“There is a time for all things,” as the Wise Man observed, and the time has
now arrived for us to part; but in bidding farewell to my reader allow me to
means of making you, my
young Fancier, a more ardent admirer of the Almond Tumbler? do you see fresh

beauties while studying the properties of this much admired bird? and do you feel
a determination to excel in this pleasing and intellectual study ? if this is the effect it
has produced in your mind, I shall consider myself fortunate in produci
result, and I do most sincerely hope that you may experience as much pleasure

Hoping that you may long enjoy this pleasure and the intercourse of intelligent
and agreeable Brother Fanciers, and that you may be able to exclaim,—Happy is
the man that forsakes his vices, and becomes an enthusiastic admirer of the

THE AUTHOR,

ng such a

CONTENTS.

Dedication to the young and

_ inexperienced -Fancier of
the-Almond-Tumbler

Description of the Bird—the
‘Feather

Shape or Carriage .

Head. . .

Beak .«

ee

Matching or Pairing .

Of Laying

Of Hatching . ,

Of Shifting .

Of Moulting .

Of Vermin .

The Loft. . . -

Of Penning the Birds

Ofthe Nest Pans... .

Marks, by which to ascertain
the colours of young Birds

inthe Nest . . .

_ Of Drafting .
Of Barren Birds
Of Washing. . . .
Of Flying the Birds
OfLoam . .
Of. Gravel
Mortar
Of their Food
Of their Drink .
Of Parting the Birds after the

Breeding Season .
Oftheir Dung . ee
Of their Diseases ,

The Roop

The Vertigo or Meagrims
The Staggers

Scouring or Purging .

The Small Pox .

Of Odd or Unmatched Birds

General Observations -

TREATISE

ON THE ART. OF

BREEDING AND © MAN. AGING

| Naira og
JOHN MATIBEWS BATON.
Dedicated. to the Young and Inexperienced Faneier of the Almond: Tumbler.

ah fei f
y we
ent riper,

All that a Man knows,..or ‘ever will know, |
"Gs by Observation or Reflection 2’“Locke.
“eras — se 2 : aa Dia
PUBLISHED FOR, AND TO ‘BE OBTAINED® OF ‘THE: AUTHOR,
7, ISLINGTON IGREEN; LONDON. :

(Pp PRICE: Qs..6d.... Delivered, free.,|

oe

"1851.

Contents of the Work.—Dedication, description. of, the Five Properties of the
Pigeon, Feather, Shape or Carriage, Head, Beak, Eye,. of Pairing, Laying, ‘Hatching,
Shifting, Moulting, Vermin, Aviary. or Loft, Penning the, Birds, | Nest ‘Pans, Ma rks by
which to ascertain the Colours. of ' Birds before)|Fledged, of , Drafting, ..Barren, ‘Birds,
“Washing, Flying, Food, Drink, Diseases and:their: Cures, «General Observations, .&c.
‘with a beautiful Portrait of the ‘Almond ‘Tumbler in three'Colours, taken, from Jife.

__ AcEREATISE ON THE ART OF BREEDING AND MANAGING‘ THE: ALMOND
TUMBLER. By J..M. EaTon.—The Almond Tumbler is one’ of the most’ beautiful .of
Pigeons in shape and colour of plumage. Its colour is black, white, and yellow ;iandithe
author says that the Fancier, ‘in his‘efforts to obtain yellow,)will produce a rich almond
colour, usually called the ground; and from which: the bird derives, its. name.” Never was
, man more enthusiastic than Mr. Eaton. No Arab of the,desert, ever. attended with

greater care to his stud of thorough breds than. does; Mr, E. to) his & Stud ” (that’s ‘the .

Tame he uses) of Almond Tumblers. 1A. perfect Almond, Tumbler. is, to. him, what the

Flying Dutchman 4s to Lord Eglinton.» He adoresithe bird as the Egyptian, did the T

“We cannot but admire his harmless pigeon: worship, awhich; he, Frat te
that not only our good ‘Queen is aw fancier,’ but; that even) Bonaparte. was one. “That
certainly we did not ‘know of the Emperor. ~The book, contains, everything. that is
necessary to teach us how to: preed and rear, tothe utmost perfection, this pink of pigeons.

A TREATISE, ON THE ART, OF BREEDING AND MANAGING ‘THE’ ALMOND TUMBLER.—
“By Joun’ MATTHEWS, EATON. Published forthe Author. == ¢ Bais

wee Letvevery man, speak of that to which he hath devoted study and attention+-I mean
not: mere book-reading» but, observation and.experiment—and he cannot fail to: add to the
“potamere pos of our Knowledge.” _ So. wrote Jolin Locke, vc eachiag dings;
observes :—100: much praise,is given to mere ‘writing of words in liéu of teaching: things ;
. J have heard. with respect and profit a.country blacksmith speak learnedly, nay,eloquently,
ow: the) welding of irc... He was master of his subject, and” went :quite. beyond: me.”

it there can be no perseverance, and without perseverance nature refuses. i
wholesome, the handsome, and the refreshing \apple 3; the Soisonous. tuber of the mt t-

oye?

shade family the esctilent ‘potatoe 5 ithe wild:/acrid daucus,. the sweet, edible carrot 3 and

to point, in the mass, at every product. of: agriculture and, horticul ‘ure, would be only
legitimate proof of the position. In’ the-animal world).too, what, beauty,

of form, utility,

and adaptability to the purposes of man may be attained, let the horse, the ox, the pig,
the sheep, and the feathered denizens of the poultry-yard, testify. Here the dovecote puts
forth its claim. And, if flower-cultivation have its enthusiasts, why not the improvement
in beauty of form, colour; and carriage of the most poetic and certainly classic of birds ?

The dove has for ages figured in poetry. In the book before us, the beauties of the
bird of Venus are dwelt on in plain prose.

To return to matter-of-fact. Mr. Eaton’s pages give more minute, sound, practical,
and available instruction and advice, as to the means of procuring, propagating,
preserving, and discriminating, the merits of the most beautiful of all the varied breeds
of the Columba, to wit, the Almond Tumbler, than any writer who has preceded him. In
fact, his is the monograph on this subject.

A portrait, printed in colours, depicting a most beautiful and rare specimen of the
breed (in possession of the author) faces the title-page.

MINING JOURNAL, Juty 26th, 1851.

A TREATISE ON THE ART OF BREEDING AND MANAGING THE ALMOND TumMBLER.—
By J. MaTrHews Eaton. London: Published for the Author, Islington Green,

The notice of a work expressly devoted to the study of the breed and management of
Pigeons may, at first sight, appear out of place in a publication confining itself to the
higher branches of science and the arts, but when we consider that the rising generation
among: our Cornish miners are great pigeon fanciers, and also thata fondness for the
rearing of dumb animals, and watching their habits and their instincts is at least an
innocent, if not an edifying pastime during the hours of relaxation, we have no hesitation
in calling attention to this publication, the result of upwards of many years” experience in
this, to some, fascinating occupation. Although stated to be ‘‘ on breeding and managing
the Almond Tumbler,” we apprehend it will generally apply to all description of Pigeons,
although more expressly and particularly drawn up from the habits of the former ; and the
author states he has been induced to publish the work from a wish to place in the hands
of the young fancier a treatise from which he might obtain upon his favorite subject both
information and amusement, and at. a price within the reach of all, there not being at
present to be obtained a work of such a nature without much difficulty. In the treatment
of the subject the author has avoided all ambiguity, eschewed low flash terms, and
stated his advice and meaning throughout in plain English, though he appears to us
somewhat enthusiastic in his valuation of the enjoyments to be obtained from this study ;
this, however, is excusable, and probably an advantage to the young reader. In the
description of the Almond Tumbler, the management of them in feeding, pairing, hatching,
&c. their treatment under diseases, and an insight here and there into the “‘ shows ” of the
higher classes of fanciers, the author gives convincing proof of much practical experience
in the subject he writes upon; and to those who are yet tyros in this department of
education we strongly recommend the volume, which contains a beautifully coloured
portrait of a valuable Almond Tumbler in the possession of the author.

MORNING POST, Aveustr 19th, 1851.

A TREATISE ON THE ART OF BREEDING AND MANAGING THE ALMOND TUMBLER.—

By Joun Matruews Eaton.
igeon fanciers will derive great pleasure, as well as very useful information, from
reading this little book, about the most beautiful of pigeons ; and the portrait of one of
them in the frontispiece will satisfy any one how well the subject of it deserves attention.
The name of this valuable species is derived from its colour, because the ground or
foundation of the feather should be a rich bright almond or yellow colour. “ The standard
authorised or laid down by the Columbarian Society, as regards the feather is as follows :—
Three colours, namely, black, white, and yellow in the nine first feathers of each wing,
counting from their extremities, and twelve in the tail; the aforesaid three colours, well
developed, would constitute a standard, but the back, breast, and rump, should be likewise
variegated, to be complete in feather; the hackle or neck feathers should be bright and
well broken with the same colours, and should resemble the delicate touches of the pencil
ofa fine artist.” But in the opinion of Mr. Eaton, the shape and carriage of this bird is
its noblest property, and to secure this perfection of shape and feather, the greatest care
. and skill in. breeding and. management is required. The tendency to degenerate, which
’ 4g observed in the Almond Tumbler, demands the exercise of judgment and experience for
its counteraction; and we believe that young fanciers may safely place themselves under
the guidance of our author. His knowledge of the habits and character of the bird appears
to be complete, and he has taken pains to omit no point upon which his readers could

desire information or advice.

THE WEEKLY DISPATCH, Aveusr 3lst, 1851.

A TREATISE ON THE ART oF BREEDING AND MANAGING THE ALMOND TUMBLER.
By Joun Mattruews Eaton.—The author (residing at 7, Islington-green) has, under the
above title, published a very useful little manual regarding the ‘“‘ Almond Tumbler,” a
pigeon of very beautifal form and peculiar plumage. The matter is ample in its range of
subject, copious and plain, so far as the directions for management, breeding, training,
&c., go, and the evident pleasure the writer seems to haye taken in his subject, makes
his book a very agreeable as well as a very instructive one.

Wright, Printer, 9 & 10, Fulwood’s Rents, Holborn.

NOTES.
; ON
A TREATISE ON THE ART OF BREEDING AND MANAGING THE

‘ALMOND TUMBLER.

BY AN OLD FANCIER.

TO THE YOUNG FANCIER, ;

I shall endeavour here to be as brief as possible, fearing I have
ran out farther than I intended. Some time after I had written my Almond
Tumbler (1st of May, 1851), I received letters from Joun Boys, Esq., Magistrate
of Margate, a rare and experienced old Fancier, who took two copies of my

~ Work on the Almond Tumbler ; after reading it over he highly complimented

me on my production, stating, that it was his intention to have written a Work
himself, but, having carefully read over my Work, he abandoned the idea, and
very kindly offered me all his manuscript and marginal notes, to make whatever
use I thought fit of them; “and what use do you think I made of them:” to
hand them down to you to read, mark, learn, and inwardly, to digest; at the
same time giving the credit to the observer, Joun Boys, Esq., Magistrate of
Margate, for his observations. ;

I am particularly desirous that the Fancier here should not by any possibility

i

overlook or forget, that whenever he is called at this part of the Work with

regard to the page, it has reference only to the Work published 1802—1804;
either of the years will do, as the one is only a re-print of the other, entitlea—
A new and complete Treatise on the Art of Breeding and Managing the Almond
Tumbler, by an Old Fancier (name not mentioned); but the great unknown
was no other than Winpvs, Esgq., Solicitor, Southampton Buildings, Holborn ;
and, as far as I can, I wish to keep the names of old and experienced Fanciers
alive, that when I refer you to the Columbarian Work, I shall refer you to the
Author — Winpus, on whose Work Joun Boys, Esq.’s remarks apply, and that
only ; and it will be policy if you can obtain one, which I believe you cannot.

On the 7th of October, 1851, I received his Book, with his marginal notes,
and having an exact copy of the Work (A new and complete Treatise on the
Art of Breeding and Managing the Almond Tumbler), I copied his notes into
a fellow copy, word for word, with this little difference :— ~—

“ This day, Oct. 7th, 185], received through the Post, the work on the Almond

Tumbler, and dedicated to the Gentlemen of the Columbarian Society, with the

remarks and notes of Joun Boys, Esq. Magistrate, &c. of Margate, for which I

feel grateful, and shall fill them in this book, as he has done in the book he has -

sent me.—Joun M. Eaton.” aay A
“The notes and corrections in this book have been -made, some ten, some

twenty, and some thirty years ago, and up to the present time, as they occured to

me from experience. | i. .
Margate. Joun Boys,”

Winpus, p. 4 and 5. His remarks as regards the prices of Almonds,—

“M. 1805 and 6. Excellent birds were to be had at five guineas a pair, although —

occasionally they reached from ten to fifteen guineas; they are much improved
since that period, but most difficult to be met with.” :

Page 6. “ Those who criticise and scoff at this Fancy should take care
not to become a Florist Fancier, or an admirer of improved Horses, Dogs or Sheep ;
nor exchange his ignorance for the knowledge of the best Piccatees, Dablias,

wis nibh Dh ai

4

arene e nee

il,

Tulips (worth ten and twenty guineas a piece), Roses (of which there are 1500
varieties), Anemonies, Heart-ease, Ranunculusses, Auriculars, &c. &c. Ai

Page 7, Writing from experience, “ and by practice and experience to
know how to mix and improve the color of the Feather by the matching of the
males and females.” Writing of what are beauties and what are imperfections :
“ Those whose experience enables them to produce variety of Feather, may. by the
matching of the parents, also learn something of Nature’s laws in the marriage
and qualification of human parents, both in personal forms and principles, by
inheritance either of health, disease or sense.”

Page 12. On the handling of a Pigeon: “The mode of handling a bird
shews at once whether the holder is a Fancier, or not even a wild and violent bird

will become quiet in the hand of an experienced Fancier.” On a badly formed
head, ‘‘ which is termed Mous-ey.”

“Page 13. Writing on the property, beak, “ it should never exceed six-eighths,
at the present day some are barely five-eighths.—1848,”

Page,J4. “The Lofts. The best Fanciers will devote three or four rooms
to his birds.” The area; “by keeping the birds from strangers, and taming

them with hemp seed to feed out of the hand, they may be caught and handled as
easily as a dog or cat.”

Page 15. On drafting young birds into another aviary. “ By all means.”

Page 16. On laying: ‘an experienced Fancier will always know within
a few hours when the hen will lay her first egg of another nest; and I have found,
in general, that a cock will not hunt and peck his hen so fiercely when his hen
droops and laps her wings; but where he does he should be caged close to the
hen’s nest until she has laid her first egg.”

Page 17. On the warmth of the loft or aviary. “ But warmed air is most
valuable,’ On dust: “All dust on the floor is certain to settle upon the
oily feathers, and make the birds look filthy.” Objecting to a cat in the loft; “I
strongly object to a cat’s guardianship.”

Page 18, On pairing; “In 1851, I had only two thin-shelled eggs, and Paired
twelve young ones in very cold weather, from sixteen pairs hatched in February.”

Page 19. Advantage of separating birds; “ Birds separated during winter
may be rematched with perfect ease in February.”

- Page 20. On counteraction; “except as to their being both of too much
feather, in which case they produce white and blind or purry-eyed birds.” On
not matching birds too high; “in this I quite agree, Joun Boys, 1849.”

Page 21. On dun colour: “But on breeding for feather, they are most
useful in high bred matches. A dun in general, is a brown black, or a black
brown ; at least, it is a very bad black, and sometimes a blue black. A good dun,

in its first plumage, should shew a silvery appearance, that is, should seem to
indicate that in its first moult it would become silvery.”

Page 22. On pairing: “I recommend that pedigree in this case be attended
to, for doubtless a parent, or grand-parent, of almost every splash may

', * Page 6. J. M. E. His marginal notes here apply to those Splatherers, who (as

Solomon beautifully observes, “ you may bruise in a mortar, and yet you cannot
obtain gumption out of them ”’) ridicule the Pigeon. It may be pardonable in
some of these, simply because they are void of brains, not having been handed
down to them ; or they may have received an injury on a “large pimple,” growing
out at the top of the neck, which will never come to a head. But itis
unpardonable in léarned men, who attempt to write upon the Pigeon, who only
‘purlesque the Pigeon; nevertheless, do not be ill-natured to such, but throw
around them your mantle of love and charity as I mean to do, and to deeply

lament and regret that learned men should attempt to write on a subject they do
not understand.

Rohe Reo Og MI Oe A oh cl ln a

ill.

be traced, and if that parent was defective in any other point, the match of a

young splash should be considered and regulated accordingly ; in reference to

the hen he should have the splashes often fail in eye.”’

Page 23. On preventing a cock getting master of two pens: “I had
one unruly cock, and could only cure him of his tricks by swinging him round
and round until he was so giddy that he could not stand, and then put him into
the breeding place where he had so trespassed, and the pair so trespassed upon
gave him a sound thrashing, and forced him down from the nest, after which he
desisted and gave up the point.”

Page 24. On nest pans: “eight and a half inches out to out at top; three

and a half deep, seven and a half wide bottom, outside. This is the admeasurement
of my pans made on purpose. (Four dozen.)””

Page 25. On straw: “ Oat straw is best.”

Page 26. On the cocks worrying and driving hens to nest: “I think this is a
useless precaution unless the birds are crowded. After the hen has laid the first
egg, the cock becomes quiet, and whenever she is separated from amongst the
crowd of other birds, he in general ceases to drive her; and it is better to leave
them to themselves and to the instincts of nature, unless the cock be quite violent.”

Page 27. On laying first egg: “ Or soon after ;” on second egg: “ More
frequently nearer about two o’clock.”

Page 28. On laying; observes, see Page 37. “Quite unnecessary ; warmth
only is necessary; wrong and dangerous.”

Page 29. On laying: “The necessity for this has never yet come under my
observation, 1849; nor since.—J. B., 1851.” “I have saved many an egg
dropped on the floor, by placing a very small quantity of hay or straw under

or round the egg, and watching that hen that will go to it, and, when discovered,

I have put the egg into the nest intended for her, and shut her up until she has

‘laid the second egg.”

Page 31. On parting the birds: “I recommend the middle of September ;

- because, late bred birds will otherwise be moulting in cold weather, and when

this is the case, they seldom or never become strong and healthy, without artificial
warmth, and much trouble. When a bird from a valuable breed happens to be

hatched so late as in the second week of ‘October, and if it be much desired to
save it, the best plan is to let its parents or nurses lay once more, and compel

‘them to lay in the nest where this young valuable one is, and by this means
the parents will always be sitting on the new eggs with the young ones, and

thereby the additional warmth will save it; then break the eggs and destroy the
nest, about ten days after being sit upon.”

Page 33. On barren birds.—See a note at the foot of page 34.

Pages 34-35. On hatching; “I think the author is mistaken on two points in:
reference to barren birds and the providing of soft meat. I have a pair of red

~ mottles that have brought up four nests in the season of 1849, without once laying,

but with a severe driving to the nest by the cock; upon each occasion I first gave
them sham eggs, which I cheated to believe were laid on the first and third day,
and upon one of those occasions when they had only set ten days I happened
to have an odd young one, just hatched, and of little value, and for the
sake of experiment, I put it under the barren birds, to try if they could furnish
soft meat before the proper time, and I was agreeably surprised to find that the

could and did supply it, although not so effectually as if they had sat the full
seventeen days; but nevertheless, the supply was sufficient to save the young one,
and they brought up the young one to be a remarkably strong one. It should,
however, be mentioned, that I gave the barren birds a mixed food or refuse—rice

- and bruised hempseed, in addition to what they could pick up out of the pigeon-

house, and they became as good nurses as the other birds that bred in due course.
- Page 35. Oneggs springing and chipping.—See page 37. .

Page 36. On the least effusion of blood will be fatal to the foetus: “‘not quite fatal.”

Page 37. On hatching; “ My practice was always as follows :—early on the
seventeenth day if the egg remained entire and unchipped, I put the egg into a
tea-cup full of water, blood warm, and the hollow part of the egg where the
beak was, would always float uppermost; I then punctured the shell at that part to
give air, and took away so much shell as was free from the caul or membrane, and
then put the egg under the parent. In the evening, if no progress had been made,
I cracked the egg-shell all round with my thumb nail, and on the following morning
I found the young one had always been hatched, unless any blood had been shed
by the operation.—J. B.”

Page 40. On shifting; “sometimes the seventh.”

; Page 41. Onshifting; “In general there should not be a greater length of
time than seven days. I very seldom exceed three or four days and when the
difference is so great as nine or ten days the young ones begin to show the color of
their feather, and in consequence thereof the old ones will sometimes on discovering
the cheat, kill them or turn them out of the nest; this however occurs but seldom.”
It is an excellent plan to remove the pans of young ones by slow degrees, i. e. from
shelf to shelf downwards to the floor, where by: placing clean straw in a warm
corner the young ones of ten or twelve days old, on getting out of their nests will
resort and cluster together, thereby obtaining constant warmth from each other,
being fed by all the old birds that have young ones on the same floor, which is
always the case. I have seldom less than five or six in a nest in this manner, at
one time, on the floor. Pana ees

Page 42. Onhen withegg; “after the birds are paired the hen will go seven
or eight days with egg before laying.”’ On shifting; ‘“‘How is this to be
accomplished without endangering the nurselings placed under the care? The
plan is not a good one in my opinion.”

Page 44. On marks to ascertain the colour of birds.—See page 21.

_Page 45. On marks, &c. “ Several of these points are correct, but this is not
to be depended on.”

Page 46. On drafting young birds; “In this respect great caution is required ;
a young one should have eaten alone three or four days before being separated
from its parents; for, upon being put amongst strange young ones, they will
always at least cease to feed heartily and perhaps not at all, lose flesh, and become
ill: the best plan is to draft them in the morning, and if towards evening their
crops are empty, remove them back again to the parents until the following
morning, and repeat this for two or three days, when they will do well, and may
be finally separated safely. (1847.)”

Page 47. On drafting young birds and their food; “ Fine refuse ; rice at all
times in the breeding season, or wheat, tares old, ticks olds, hemp in very small
quantity, and very seldom on rape ; and canary I object to.” ~

Page 48. On barren birds.—See page 34. ;

Page51. Onvermin, and blue ointment; “on each side of the breast bone;
but it is too violent and dangerous a remedy upon a very valuable bird.”’

Pages 52-53. On fumigating ; “ My plan by fumigation has been very
— successful as follows :—Make a large brown paper bag with a hole through the
‘ bottom sufficient for a bird’s head to be passed through it, put the bird in the bag
with its head outwards through the hole, and then with fumigating bellows fill the
bag with very strong tobacco smoke, taking care that the bird’s head is kept on
the outside, so as to breathe good air ; in three or four minutes every insect will be
killed, and set the bird at large; where eggs and knits are deposited amongst the
neck feathers, repeat the fumigation about —_in the ensuing month.—Qu. Would
not an oiled silken bag be more manageable and useful ?” ;

Page 54. On vermin. ‘The common Pigeon Louse and Feather Louse are
otally , and in all respects, different. ~ Pigeons kept clean never have fleas. I have

never tried this, fearing to destroy by the alkali in soap that oily coat which is on
the feathers, and for a time keeping the bird much warmer than otherwise—a bird
so treated is like a sheep shorn in cold weather.” See M.S. note in the 52nd page.

Page 55. On vermin on fresh birds; “Unnecessary in the country, where
birds are kept clean ; but all newly added birds should be examined and cleaned.”

Page 58. On plumage, rain, and water: “Unless the spring water is from
a chalky soil.”

Pages 58-59. On flying the birds: “And especially if the loft is kept free
from dust and dirt. On the contrary, more than half of my flyers are by good
usage quite tame, and when I seat myself in an arm chair on the lawn, fly to
me and surround me, several of them letting me handle them, and playing with
me by pecking my fingers and cooing. This is quite true, I have a pair of red
mottle, bred from Almonds, whose grandmother was a red, and both tumbled
beautifully.” ; ;

Page 60. On loam: “ A bank of street sweepings, where the roads are daily
watered with sea water, is superior to all other methods. The birds will always
be upon the bank on account of the salt, and they swallow a quantity of fine
“gravel on that account.”

Page 62, Gravel.—See the note at the foot of page 60.

Page 63. Mortar; “ Mortar dust will greatly injure the plumage, and I
never admit mortar; the dusty strong alkali, which, by settling on the feathers,

kills the oil of the plumage, and the birds are always dirty.”

Page 66. On their food: “I do not concur in this; if the food is damaged __

Nature points out to the old ones not to touch it, if they can get other food.

Good old wheat and tares, old tick, and refuse rice, are the best articles of food,

placed in hoppers, so that the old ones can always get which they like, The
' palate is their safest guide, having plenty of choice.”’

Page 67. On change of food.—see page 47. “ Beyond a week or ten days :

at one period, change of food is of great advantage.” ;

Page 68-69. On the healthy state of the birds: “In this year (1849) from five
pairs of well bred birds I reared thirty-two young ones, by the aid of nine pairs
of common Tumblers, as nurses, and by shifting the young ones of those high
bred birds that deserted them. But I also attribute that success partly to diet,
which I constantly watched ; their principal food was old tick beans, and tares ;

but, for a day or two before hatching, I always gave the old birds a little refuse.

rice and hemp-seed every morning and evening, until the parents had fed off
their soft meat. By care I never lost a bird; for, in addition, I also watched
the time of hatching, and frequently broke the shell of an egg when the young
one was not strong enough to extricate itself, by first puncturing a small hole

near the beak to give air, and‘on the following day cracking the shell all round —

the egg. The first nest_in April all failed from cold weather ; from the second,
set in May and June, I ‘obtained five young ones; from the third set in June
and July, I obtained six young ones ; from the fourth set in July and August,
I. obtained nine young ones; fifth set in August and September, I obtained six
young ones ; and in the sixth and last set in September and beginning of October,
six more, making altogether thirty-two. After this, and as soon as the old birds
began to show signs of going to nest again, — I separated male from female,
putting the young ones under the nurses. During the whole season I did not
lose a bird either by disease or accident after the first three or four days.”
(J. B., November, 1849.)

Page 70-71. On parting the birds after breeding season.—See also page
31. “One of the methods to check going to nest again, is to make them,
if you can, feed as many young ones a& possible, as they are seldom with egg
again whilst so feeding, and more especially if their pans be taken away. The
feeding lowers the old ones, but not near so much as going to nest again; and by

vi.
this method your young ones become much stronger birds, and more fitted to
begin moulting before winter sets in.” Page 72-73. ‘No sound Fancier will
keep his birds together in winter. I think this of but little importance; well

managed birds in a roomy loft are best left to themselves ; where crowded, the
remarks will apply.”

Page 74. “ Query.—Was the above remark worth publishing ?”’

Page 75. On diseases: “I have never lost but one young bird from this
disease [canker] ; it is in fact a cancer, and in my opinion is hereditary amongst
the highest bred birds when kept upon bad food, and in a filthy state; or why
should I have escaped it amongst at least five hundred young ones,”

Page 80, The roop: “Has never attacked my birds.”

Page 81. The vertigo or meagrims ; “ Thirty-six years ago when my collection
of Dragons (about thirty) every morning brought me from London, in slips, the
leading article of the Morning Post newspaper tied round the leg, I had three birds
attacked, but they recovered on resting them and giving good food. (Note in 1850.)”

Page 83. On the staggers; “I have never had a bird die by being attacked by
either of the last three diseases, which I attribute to care, diet, regimen and
flying at large in fine weather.” On scouring or purging; “The astringent quality
depends on the soil from whence the water issues, or the quality of the pipes which
convey it.” :

Page 84. Onsmallpox. “ This disease never visited my birds.”

Page 86. Ona Fancier scarcely knowing his own birds, when sore in moult :
_« This is as true as it is remarkable.’ On moulting; “ Especially the late-bred
young ones, which should be kept in warmer rooms, or at least where the cold air -
is excluded.”

Page 92. Ona bad eye, most difficult to counteract; “So I think. (J. B.)”
Page 93. Sexes; ‘ difficult to tell.”

| Page 94, Sexes of young birds: “ By no means so easily decided until after
they have moulted.”

Page 97. On feeders: “I am rather adverse to keeping common birds for
feeders, and prefer inferior bred Tumblers, Bald Heads, or Beards; but they
have this evil—by their constantly flying and tumbling, they encourage the young
high-bred birds to fly so much as to make them rather coarse, which is worse
than shutting them up altogether. All birds with wings should be allowed to
use them in moderation only.”

Page 98. On young birds deserted, on getting food down their throat: “The
present breed of small Almonds will not admit of beans. Give them sound old
_ tares or wheat.”

Page 100. On laying secorid egg: “Ifin good health: but if in a weakly
state, it will be at two o’clock or later.” On the Portrait of Winpus’s Almond
Tumbler : “In 1850 I bred a black mottled cock, whose carriage in my opinion
so far exceeded the representation here shewn in profile, that I employed an able

ainter to make an oil painting of the bird, but instead of preserving the black
mottled feather, I gave the painter a richly Almond feathered bird to copy instead
thereof, so that now I have an oil painting of as perfect and bright an Almond
as can be produced to my taste. The two birds were caged for the painter's
guide.’’*

* These Observations and Remarks are, upon the whole, true to the letter,,
which you will find in your experience ; at the same time I do not exactly agree
with all that Joun Bors, Esq. remarks, not having time to tell you the why or the
wherefore ; nevertheless, I believe, if you read over my ALMOND TUMBLER, it
will throw light upon the subject; but expecting to appear before you again in a
short time, my Young and Inexperienced Fancier, is the cause of my taking leave
of you so abruptly, although it is not my intention to leave or forsake you—J.M.E.

Vil.

J. M.E. To my Young Fancier,

I cannot help thinking, but that I should have acted dishonest to you, if I had
withheld this vast amount of experience derived solely from Observation and
Reflection from Fifty Years study on the Art of Breeding and Managing: I
should have been no less dishonest, if I had attempted to have disguised and
cooked it up, and endeavoured to impose upon you, laying claim to it as touching
the Originality: I have exerted my little abilities to the utmost to give each
Fancier or Writer the credit that is due to him, as touching Originality. ©

There is no doubt but that Joun Boys, Esq. could have arranged his Observations
infinitely better than I shall, but having his permission to make whatever use I
thought fit of his Notes in the margin, the thought struck me that it was pregnant
with danger if I apprised him of my intention to publish his Observations, and
would thank him, if not too much trouble, to put them in that form he would
like them to appear in print; having permission in my possession I did not like to
run the risk, for ie might for ought I know have withdrawn his permission for my
behaviour to him; (he has very kindly invited me to Margate. I am somewhat
like the Auctioneer’s hammer—Going! Going! Going! but not gone yet. He
rather complaining that he does not exactly feel as he did thirty years ago, my
advice is to follow Chesterfield, and talk of that forty years hence.) I have never
had the honor of seeing him, but can take an exceedingly good lesson out of his
book, and sincerely hope that you feel as grateful as I do, for handing down his
experience to us. ’

To my Brother Fanciers,

Should it so happen in your experience from Observations, the idea has
struck you that you have witnessed things, that are worthy to be handed down to
_ posterity among Pigeon Fanciers, and that it is not your intention to publish a Work,
if you will forward them to me, should there be merit in them and Originality, I
will take care they come to light among the Gentlemen of the Fancy, and you
shall have the credit as touching the Originality.

FINIS.

[AS REGARDS JOHN BOYS, ESQ.’S NOTES. ]

[Owing to a mistake on my part, in omitting to let the Printer have these
remarks, and the sheets being struck off, lam under the necessity of placing
them here. | %

Moors, paragraphs 73 to 98.—See J. M. Earon’s Almond Tumbler, p. 44 to 48,
*¢ T object,” &c.

J.M.E. Iwould strongly recommend the young and inexperienced Fancier to put
in practice the remedies as laid down by Moore, whenever any of his Pigeons are
suffering from distempers or accidents from whatever cause. I entertain a much
higher opinion of the remedies prescribed, when I ascertained from his Work,
Columbarium, or the Pigeon-house, that he was a medical man: his Work shews
how great an observer he was of a Pigeon, which he only kept as a fancy, and

to relieve the mind. I cannot help thinking, one who thought so hard and deeply
~ on a Pigeon, thought equally as hard, or more deeply on his profession, and was
a credit and an ornament to the profession to which he belonged; and it must
be so With you, provided you think hard and deeply on the Pigeon. I am then
convinced that you are blessed with the means to think hard and deeply on
matters of infinite greater importance. Entertaining so high an opinion of his -
advice and instructions all throughout his Work, I advise you that if unfortunately
any of your Pigeons are overtaken with diseases or accidents, which, most
assuredly they will, apply Moorr’s remedies, and the sooner it is discovered the
better, remembering the Poet’s advice, “ A stitch in time, saves nine.”

CONTENTS

PAGE.

a icated to the Young and In-
experienced Fancier, on ‘Tame,
Domesticated, and Fancy

Pigeons .ae.eee0e

- An Address, &c. ..........

Columbarian, or the Pigeon-
house, by JouN Moorz. eaeieees
edication

The Preface... 0ssacesssansccdscesseee

_ Umpires—their duties .........00.

Method of building a Loft seaseucs

Method of Matching and Pairing
your Pigeons...,....s.s.eee ee

To know a Cock from a Peters

The Generation of Pigeons ......

cir Dithscsephersiinsnadeaespasvcne

The Salt Co citnceral we biSicn axon eein its ae

Distempers of Pigeons .........00.

Their ga? amma eaten

Their | Dung ..

The Carrier -ocsessee. Wecsleasandesees

Horseman
Dragoon
Dutch Cropper .....
English Powter .........seces
Parisian Powter .......0.
Uploper........s.see0ee Leena
Powting Horseman....... aes
Rim DIGI, <<. aacesesverspaversgees i
Almond Tumbler ..
“See Almond Tumbler, by
J. M. Eaton.”

The Black Mottled Tumbler......
Yellow do. d@n. 1seais
Red do. W06g 5.60482
Kite do. do.
Dun- ‘ do. do.
Bald head do.

Coc ccaceccecseevos tOesee0ee

Ceacececesece @ccccees

eeeeocadecoors eecctococe

er?

67
67
67

PAGE:

The Beard Tumbler
» Blue do.
Tumblers in general .c.cossoaseseee
The Leghorn Runt ......s... eee
Spanish Runt
Friesland Runt

POCveeceeccccecce

SO Oe saneePBeegy

Cascceooorcooes

eeedooseees
eeceeererooccce

COC oearertcsrseneses

Laugher ......
LE PUMAPCLCR \ cidecsebssdesbvaris
RACO DINGS: seis ccedtheogiccd cae.
Capuching = .cscxaiewas
NGO Lir: ete caumetuewdes

Helmet onesie ee ww
(nih: Sib edt aeeiees
Hing DUEGI pit s'gkove clea bob voewd oc
Turner
Barb. or Barbary......-08 ess. 7E
Mahomet ......

eenee © Cecencescscsenses

POCCOT OTOL COL ees
PC Peeeeeecces©0nereee §S0ede
C@02eee_ceessecseve

Broad-tailed Shakers or
Bete, ac ecccken se ccteeades
Narrow-tailed Ghinker.osevcass
An alphabetical Explanation at
the end of Work...
The Lace Pigeon sssecccossecseres
FrUk Backscoses ses
STUBS tel veasetac ened side
Chinese ..
Porcelain ‘ssec.cceesecee
35) REWGE Po tacs te reccee c
AT AGOVESS 52 SECU 0s000. 7. cen culics
Almond Tumbler, by J. M. Eaton.
Joun Boys, Esq.’s Observations
and Reflections.
The Testimonials of the Press
on J. M. Earon’s Almond
Tumbler.

@ecvces

Secoeses: ceresssercoscos

+ cevcccece

W. A. Wright, Printer, 9 and 10, Fiilwood’s Rents, Holborn.

: A. TREATISE eo
ON THE ‘ART OF BREEDING AND MANAGING
A odd me ‘ALL, THE KNOWN. :
~ “TAME, DOMESTICATED, AND FANCY

PIGEONS, |

\

CAREFULLY COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORS,
o CONTAINING THE WHOLE OF THE, WORKS OF. .
JOHN MOORE, 1735, JOHN MAYOR, 1765, DANIEL GIRTIN, aXp JOHN BOYS,
{ ad ‘Esquirus’ Notes’;: with Observations and Reflections. _
% BY JOHN MATTHEWS EATON,
. Avraor or “Tas ALMOND TUMBLER.” © bug
With 7 Elegantly executed Engraved: Coloured Portraits,
Hoth «As Daren. as. Lirs,: (By DEAN WOLSTENHOLME,) VIZ.
TWO ALMOND TUMBLERS, BLACK MOTTLED, RED BALD-HEAD’ & YELLOW
BEARD TUMBLERS, BLACK CARRIER, & BLUE PIED ENGLISH POUTER.
And Containing all that.is necessary to be known of Tame, Domesticated and Fancy Pigeons,
TTE LORTRAITS, when Framed and Glazed, are much admired,
j and are great Ornaments to any Room.

Published by, and to be OBTAINED of the Author, .
JOHN MATTHEWS EATON, 7, Istineton GREEN, LONDON.
PRICE 10s. ‘ (Post Free.)

’"*|* Money Orders to be made payable 86, Upper STREET, IsLiNGTON.

“CONTENTS...

PAGE °

* poe PAGEHs i
Dedication to the Young and In- The Beard Lumbler sevsessessseee 68
experienced Fancier, on Tame, - Blue do, Pathe Mea 68
. Domesticated, . and Fancy Tumblers in general ....ccsesevseee 68.
Pigeons veceerevesves savesecsesseree 8 | Lhe Leghorn Runt ......s04 esseseee 70
An Address, &C. ....ceeereerere ee »» Spanish Runt .........eceesees 71
Columbarian, or. the. Pigeon- >> Hriesland Runt ...see-ssooves 71
house, by JOHN Moo Erecsersee 9 99 Spot ee C0ec vce sreOdncgcnercseneren 7k
: Dedication pale eoceeahenceecestereveers 11 r>) Laugher covescoscccdsesccscoucee 71
- The Preface auvcaaae mame eae 13 ” ‘Trumpeter eecsccceccescconeeoes 72
‘Umpires—their duties = ag Seas 24 99 Jacobine eveoovtOscercecccevoncee 72
Method of building a Loft eveagoeee® 27 >. Capuchine 20000 POseogeosoeteee (oe
Method of Matching and Pairing SSS GI SLaescoctoereascesterteenss 1
YOUT Pigeons.ev:o.seesrrecerss sarees 29 39 Helmet secaedisssistedeoesssdeveee 74
To know a Cock from @ Hen... 30 ”? Roff eoeavcceeseess eooosscnelosocs 74
“The Generation of Pigeons «+... 30 yo Finmikin sscdevsedesscecesesserse: 75
"Their Diet..ccccsecccscescecccsscovcaces 34 39> Turner soraccvecceseascoceaovoress 75
The Salt Mineo. ay itesiasseeine De 9 Barb or Barbary...csvee eatde 75
Distempers of Pigeons sere. 35 ay Mahomet ..-.seccsssescooneesees 76
Their. Usefulness......ecsccvccccesses 38 oy) Turbit peernse CyOoeseeesessssgoee 77
‘Their Dung eecoece } PY) Owl. asnevees vesecconescceee eo coe 77
The Carrier cere. », Broad-tailedShakers orFantail 78
>> -Horseman ...+00 “a »» Narrow-tailed Shaker......... 78
99, DIAaQOON .scccraneceeeeeees An alphabetical Explanation at
5, Dutch Cropper ....... veseese 5O the end of WOrks......csecrcevve. SE.
9 English Powter Georccrccesccece 50 The Lace Pigeon [AietuwenKeeveses OR
59 2 Parisian Powter OOCRREPOSLeCC ee 57 cs ee Frill Te AG seh sasaas expe tee eperas 81
"99 Uploper... eowccets aecceeeneccode os O85 9 Smiter, ontss sepedsesersvcces OL
: 39 Powting HELorseMan.i....cceces 58 > Chinese, .+0.. eer ecoceancgsccccee 8l
ay) Tumbler: “Eoibiide Sea labéveceense 62 9? Porcelain SOeseveedvccosscossoeese 81
"99 ‘Almond. Tumbler POG oer eee" ‘ee 64 93 Antwerp SOL CCE MER ECODG Eggo See ESF 83 =
* See. Almond Tumbler, by An Address, &Ceseveseseccrece-oseee 85
oo 0.) JM. Eaton.” ) Almond Tumbler, by J. M. Eaton.
The Black Mottled Tumbler.«... 67 Joun Boys, Esq,’s Observations
bol, ¢Xellow dos 2. do. sy .seere 67 | and Reflections. t ce
ayy Red do. dol adie 07 The Testimonials of the Press on...
ty, Kites © do. do, |. vesees 67 J.M.Eaton’s AlntondTumbler.
o°s,y° Dun do, do. weerew cs: Do. on Tame, ; Domesticated,
a) Bald-head do. een pen 68 - ;

and Fancy Pigeons... 5.

[TURN OVER

TESTIMONIALS OF THE ‘PRESS.

BELL'S LIFE, January 23rd, 1853. .
PIGEON !FANCY.—We have. just received a Treatise on the ART OF BREEDING AND
-Manacine Tame, DomeEsTIcaTED, AND Fancy Prcrons, by Mr. John Matthews Eaton,
of 7, Islington, Green,.a gentleman who a short time back wrote a work upon the Almond
Tumbler. The present is a. work much wanted hy the Fancy, and yshall’ be noticed at
Jength in our columns the first opportunity. At present we have only space to say that
the Author is a Fancier and Breeder, and thoroughly master of his subject.

MIDLAND SPORTING CHRONICLE, January 28th, 1853.

‘A. Porstiss oN THE ART OF BREEDING “AND MANAGING ALL THE KNOWN Fancy
Picrons.—By John Matthew Eaton, 7, Islington Green, London. =In ‘the present mania
for improvements, we feel convinced that the’result of the Author’s labours will be fully
appreciated ; and that the treatise before us will meet with a deserving encouragement,
and be looked up to as a guide and an authority for amateur Fanciers. The manual is
very entertaining and instructive throughout, copious in detail, and the production of one
who has evidently made a warm study of improving the breed of these beautiful birds.

vIn addition to his own practical knowledge, he favours us witha‘careful ‘compilation from
the valuable works of the late John Moore (1735), Mayor (1765), D. Girtin’and John
Boys, Esq.,. with a commentary on their respective methods .of treatment in the
CoLumpBarium. The subject could not have been better handled’tlian it has been by Mr.
Eaton, whose pages indeed, give “more minute, sound practical, and available instruction
and advice, as to the means of procuring, propagating, preserving, and discriminatlng the
merits”. of the Fancy Pigeon than any writer we are acquainted with. Truly, his is the
monograph on this ‘subject.’ A well executed set of engravings, showing the Fancier what
to “ ied iap to,” accompanies the work. 53 : ;

BELU’S LIFE, January 30th, 18533

A TREATISE’ ON THE ART oF Breepinc AND Manacine. TaME, DOMESTICATED, AND
Fancy Pigeons. By Joun Martnews Eaton.—Mr. Eaton is well and most favourably
known to us as the Author of Tae ALMonpD TuMBLER, arid as one of the most enthusiastic
Pigeon Fanciers of the day. If the Greek poet Anacreon, or the Latin one—Catullus,
lived in.these degenerate davs, they would most assuredly write odes in his praise, for he
could)furnish them with better. Carrier Pigeons to bear messages of leve to their
mistresses.than Athens.or Rome ever produced. Mr. Eaton loves Pigeons with a sincere
fervour that must render him a happy man, and his love for those beautiful birds has led
him to study. profoundly their natural history and habits. He*knows how to treat them
in health and in disease, to train them for all the uses they may be put to, as from
cleaving the air to be cleft themselves, poor things! for those ‘pies so ‘palatable to-
omnivorous man. As an instructor in the Art of breeding and rearing évery species of
Pigeon Mr.. Eaton cannot.,be, surpassed, and all his various knowledge he has scattered
cleverly over the pages of the book under notice. Young and inexperienced ‘* Fanciers,”
buy it immediately.

>

ee MORNING - HERALD, Fesrvary tst, 1853. .

Ao TREATISE ON. THR ART.OF BREEDING AND MANAGING TAME, DOMESTICATED, AND
Fancy Pigeons. By J.M. Eaton. Published by the Author, Islington Green.. It may
truly “be said that the author of, this work thoroughly understands the subject on which he
employed his pen. No point, however minute, has escaped his observation in the rearing,
managing, and training of Pigeons of every kind and variety. He'is quite enthusiastic in
the science of which he is;so experienced a professor, and his book may be consulted with
confidence on all the matters; relating to the procuting, propagating, preserving, and
discriminating the merits of the, Pigeon tribe, All who are inclined to indulge in this
Fancy will find. ample matter in this Volurmne,to employ their thoughts and direct their
efforts. . It.is accompanied by,six finely coloured plates, representing beautiful specimens
of the differentibreeds ofthe Pouter, the Carrier, the Beard, the Bald-head, «the Black-
mottle, and the Almond Pigeons. ... :

= MORNING°? POST, Fesruary..9th,: 1853,

A TREATISE ON THE ART OF BREEDING AND Manacine Tame, DOMESTICATED, AND FAncy
PicEons.—By John Matthews Eaton, Author of the ‘ Almond . Tumbler,’ ) Mr. Eaton is
a very experienced and very enthusiastic Pigeon-Fancier;:/agid to those who desire
information’on- the breeding’ and management~of. these. beautiful: birds, we cannot
recommend a better-guide. *He'is, moreover, deeply read imthe literature of the subject,
and he has rendered good «sétViee: tothe art whichohe professes; | by»preserving in his
present book’a very'searce and viltiable Treatise, published inl735_ hy. Mr. John Moore,
under the title ‘of “ Columbatium,‘or the Pigeon-House,” from!cwLich’ all ‘Subsequent
writers have largely borrowed, and a8 it should’seem. not always with duct acknowledgment.
This Treatise stands very high in the estimation of Mr, Eaton, and-with Es additions and
annotations contains the fullest and-most satisfactory.information which eveiX the uninitiated
ean require. Several other works have sueceeded it; and whatever is origti.al and useful
in them has also béen embadied by our zealous friend in his notes ;%so that 1a this book

-the:resalt of his own observation and experience is engrafted upon the stock of ) aformation
which his predecessors had accumulated; and the student who comes to this wel.\-supplied
gtorehouse will assuredly not be sent empty away. Elegancies of style are of little moment

Od

Meg

Cn See war. Os ee ee ee ee

es)

©

ee a ee nS i al

San

— ie
ie

4

in such a book ; and we are not sure that Mr. Eaton would not have lost more than he
could gain by submitting his manuscript to. the revision. of, some literary friend ; more
especially as the adoption of that course, with respect to his former. work, appears to

. have deprived him, most unjustly in some quarters, of the credit of its authorship. We.

formerly bore testimony of the merits of his “Almond Tumbler ;” and its insertion° in
the present volume, with the notes.added by J ohn Boys, Esq. Margate, is convenient, ’
and appears tomender the book exhaustive of the subject. The Portrait of a very splendid

specimen, belonging to the Author, adorns the Volume. * ~

SUNDAY TIMES, Frsrvuary 13, 1853.2. © oes... Wiiox
A Treatise on Breeding and Managing Pigeons. By J. M. Eaton. There seems to be

an inherent love amongst English people for rearing and improving the breed of Pigeons,

and several works have been written upon the treatment. of Faney!Pigeons which have

' been held in great repute by amateur Fanciers. Mr. Eatott, already favourably known

to the world as'the author of a. Treatise on the Almond’ Tumbler, ‘now’ brings forward a
-mnore comprehensive work; on the art of breeding and managing common, domesticated,
and fancy Pigeons... The work does not profess to be entirely original; Mr. Moore's
Columbarium, or the Pigeon House, published in 1785, being made the ‘text of the: present
work, with copious notes compiled from the works of Mayor and Girtin, and many
valuable comments from Mr, Eaton’s own pen. ‘The ‘book, as far as wé@ are‘competent to
judge, appears to be a complete practical guide for the inexperienced ‘Pigeon Fancier, an
elaborate treatise by a man who has evidently devoted time, care, and attention te the
subject upon which he. writes. Accompanying the work we have received some’ well«
executed engravings, coloured after nature, of the much-admired “ Alinond Tumbler’
and other rare and beautiful varieties of Fancy Pigeons, 4 IS? ED
MIDLAND SPORTING CHRONICLE, Maxcu 4th, 1853! ts
A Treatise on the Art of Breeding and Managing Tame, Domesticated’ and Fancy.
Pigeons. By John Matthews Eaton, 7, Islington Green, London.: A féw weeks ago we

noticed in terms of high and deserved commendation this valuable treatise, “which is —

peculiarly adapted to assist the inexperienced in the art.of Pigeon Fancying. To the

work is prefixed a fine coloured engraving of the Almond Tumbler, for the successfal
breeding of which the author is so greatly distinguished; and among its contents will be

found, in addition. to a full description of this beautiful bird, copious accounts of the

various species of domesticated Pigeons known in this country, and perspicuous directions

for breeding them. The best methods, also, of treatment when these beautiful.animals —

of the feathered race are labouring under any of the distempers to which they are occa-
sionally subject, are here fully developed. The construction of a Columbarium, or the
Pigeon-house, and observations on the usefulness of the Pigeon, both in food and physic,
form not the least important portions of this valuable acquisifion to our works on Natural
History. It is difficult to select one page more than another, where so much valuable
theoretical and practical information prevails throughout, to give the reader an adequate
conception of its merits. We, therefore, take promiscuously from it a description of the
Carrier Pigeon, which will afford him a fair specimen of the able and interesting manner
in which the Author has treated his subject:—“ The Columba Tabellaria, or Carrier
Pigeons.—[Too long for insertion in this Extract. Read p. 40 to 44.] In conclusion, we

may venture to pronounce this vade mecum, which no Bird-fancier should be without, as

the very best of its kind extant. The same able and intelligent author has published a

_Series of admirably executed engravings, coloured to the “very life,” which forms a

beautiful and instructive illustration of the subject which he has in the above book executed

with such masterly skill. They consist of portraits—1. The Carrier. 2. A Pouter.

3. A Bald Head. 4. A Black Mottle. 5, The Beard. 6. An Almond: of which the
author possesses the best breed in the kingdom. This proves a valuable and beautiful

_ appendage to the studio of the Ornithologist.

3 THE FIELD, Marcu 5th, 1853.
A Treatise on the Art of Breeding and Managing all the known Tame, Domesticated,
and Fancy Pigeons. Published by, and to be obtained of, the Author,
John Matthews Eaton, 7, Islington Green, London.
Mr. Eaton has dedicated his Illustrated Work to the Young’Fancier, and. appears to

- have had an espécial eye to giving him the advantage of all his own experience, derived

from long observation and reflection. He points out theway of obtaining such birds as

“will lay a foundation, ‘or ‘improve a stud or strain of birds, and at the same gives the more

experienced Faneiers (so often appointed Umpires), much wholesome advice. The
Author appears somewhat nettled and galled at the few who attributed the authorship of
his former work)(‘* The Almond Tumbler ’’) to other writers, It appears that Mr. Eaton
has dived deeper into the subject of Fancy Pigeons than any other author. In his book
he has at least rescued from the rude hand of time the original work on Fancy Pigeons,

~ from which almost all other writers have largely borrowed without acknowledgment (the
late: John Moore’s “Columbarium; or, the Pigeon House,”. 1735). He has taken this
‘book as his text, and it appears to us that he has seriously weighed every remark he has

made before committing his yolume to press,

THE MINING JOURNAL, Manrcn 5th, 1853... | pl
A Treatise on the Art of ‘Breeding and Managing Tame; Domesticated, and Fancy
Pigeons. By John Matthews Eaton. ‘This work, which forms the-second, published by
the author, is, as its title implies, a:perfect treatise; embracing» not. only sopinions. and
advice, the result of many years’ constant and persevering attention to the subject under
notice, but forms a valuable sequel to the work published “by Mr. Eatontsome sixtéen
months since, and which was, upon that occasion, reviewed in our columns. In noticing
the treatise at present under review, it might appear that we are soaring aloft, while our
vocation is that in the depths or inmost recesses of the earth, a$ minerals, not Pigeons, are
more especially ourprovinee ; put as “all work and’ no play makes-Jack a dull boy,”
wewill needs indulge our author and. ourselves in taking ‘a “ bird’s eye’ view of the
subject matter treated upon. Without entering into those minute details'as to “the ~
properties, of beak, wattle, and eye,” or other points, which, however, will’ doubtless be
read with interest and advantage by those who are lovers of “ the fancy,” °and which ‘are
of an-instructive and amusing nature, we may observe that in the body of the work isa
reprint ofa treatise or paper published in 1735, by John Moore, entitled ‘ Columbarium,
or the Pigeon-house; being an ‘ntroduction to a Natural History of Tamé Pigeons#’
This would appear to, be highly prized by Mr. Eaton, who furnishes his notes and opinions
on the facts put forth, many of which will be found not. only amusing but perfectly
original, as told by the author in his own way, and for which we must needs refer to the
work itself.; Having travelled through this essay, with the accompanying notes appended,
and a letter from the editor or commentator, occupying a space 88 pages, with an address,
dedication, and introductory remarks, we arrive at the reprint of the “Treatise on the
Art of Breeding and Managing the Almond Tumbler,” reviewed in our columns of July
26, 1851, which»closes the volume. It would only detract from the value which will
doubtless be attached to the publication by the fancier, and those intimately interested in
the question, were we to attempt any extracts : indeed, to do the subject fair justice, the
treatise should be perused throughout, as the best evidence of how much may be said on
a subject which at first might appear of so little significance. It should. be observed that
the volume, in addition to the plates introduced, is accompanied by elaborately coloured
engravings of the Pouter,’ the Carrier, the.Beard, the Bald-head, the Black Mottle, and
the Almond Pigeon, which are executed in a superior manner, and in themselves the full
value of the treatise in question. In conclusion, -we can recommend the work to the
perusal of all interested in the study, and would say to others, in the various departments
Hustrative of natural history or scientific uses « go thou and do likewise.”

THE GUARDIAN, Marcu 16th, 1853.

A quaint but clever and amusing gentleman, by name Eaton, has, it seems, devoted
himself heartily to the rearing of Tame Pigeons, and the production of those marvels of ©
shape, colour, feather, and head, which so much attract the “ Fancy.” He has certainly
a great deal to tell, and he tells it in a curious but entertaining fashion. His 7 reatise on
the Art of Breeding and Managing Tame, Domesticated, and Fancy Pigeons, is to us
all unversed in the mysteries of “ fancy”? a very amusing book ; to more learned
readers we doubt not very instructive also. He reprints, besides, a Treatise of a
Mr. Moore, called the Columbarian, or Pigeon-house, first printed 120 years ago, with
copious notes in addition. ‘These notes are often very original,’ and contain a deal’ ‘of
observation and curious facts. The half-dozen Prints which accompany the Volume
are excellent. The Carrier and the Almond Tumbler are particularly beautiful. They

are really lovely birds, and show that in Pigeons, ‘at least, the perfection of “fancy is
not inconsistent with very great natural beauty.

~ JOHN BULL, Juxy 30th, 1855. fy

A Treatise on the Art of Breeding and Managiug Tame, Domesticated, and Fancy
Pigeons, carefully compiled from the best Authors, with Observations, containing all that is
necessary to be known of tame, domesticated. and fancy Pigeons. By John Matthews Eaton,
Author of the “Almond Tumbler.”—Published for the Authore wediigh

This treatise on a subject equally interesting to the world of Science and to {the
Fancy,” which has been for some time before the public, and is well known, among
Pigeon breeders and fanciers, has just received additional illustration from a beautiful
set of plates in which the author has immortalized: several, of the. most. singular, and
valuable specimens of the Pigeon genus. Both the book: and its,pictorial accompaniments
are deserving of all commendation. teil

COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.
: : OcToBER 20th, 1853.

Time was, not many years since, when “a Pigeon Fancier ’» was associated. in all
men’s minds with Costermongers, Pugilists, Rat-catchers, and: Dog-stealers, and for 1°
other reason that we can discern than that the majority of Pigeon Fanciers were artisans
—men who lived in the courts, alleys, and other by-places of ‘the metropolis. Such

men, in- those days, deew towards them 10 sympathy—they were the profane vulgar—

nee ee ee ee

anno,

the purer occupations of life... =
The cultivator of a Pansey in a court-yard of Whitechapel, and the breeder of Pi ge ons

d, and to rejoice in the knowledge

plea that: can be surged in» favour of rearing poultry. Beauty,, gentleness, profit, are
eommon’ to both, and. in antiquity, the Dove-cote might claim precedence of the Fow]l-

Romans have written, if he had ‘been, at, Stevens’s auction, and seen £40 given for one!
It is true that this one was a. Shanghae cock, but for a century much larger prices, if we

estimate the comparative ‘weights, have been given for Fancy Pigeons in this country-
“Thus we have before us the account ‘of ‘a'sale of nineteen pairs of ** Powter Pigeons,” on
the 30th of December, 1761; in Beach Lane, London. They fetched £92. 9s. 6d., and
one pair was knocked down for sixteen guineas. Two pairs were afterwards re-sold for
thirty-six guineas. An account of the sale is in Mr. Eaton’s work, which we shall notice
presently, It was in the first half of the last century, that the cultivation of the Pigeon
was most general in England, and during that period appeared the first. works upon. the
subject that are to be found in our literature. The earliest of these publications was
The Columbarium, by John Moore. This. appeared in’ 1735, being followed; in 1765,
by an annonymous Treatise on Domestic Pigeons ; by Daniel Girtin’s Complete, Pigeon
Fancier, without date. There appeared, in 1802-4, 4 Treatise on the Almond Tumbler,
by an un-named author, but who was a Mr. Windus, .a London, attorney, and now we
have hefore us the whole combined in one volume, with:a large amount of original notes,
by John Matthews Eaton. Wis Treatise on the Art of breeding and managing the. Almond
Tumbler was published in 1851, and again, with the annotated work, in the present. year,
under the title of 4 Treatise on Pigeons.

“It is the best and fullest work which has’ yet appeared upon the subject, and with it
are given a portfolio of portraits, beautifully drawniand coloured, the size of: life, of the
Almond Tumbler, Bald Head, Beard, Black Mottle, Carrier, and Pouter.

We consider it the best work that has hitherto appeared relative to Pigeons, because it
is the accumulated experience of practical. men arranged by one enthusiastically fend) of
the birds concerning which he writes. ‘This enthusiasm carries him beyond the bounds
of sober judgment. occasionally, but no reader will consider this unpardonable,,.even
although he goes the length of admirmg’an “ Almond Tumbler,” as the most beautiful
of God’s creatures, with the exception of woman!

Mr. Eaton‘is not a practiséd writer, and, ‘therefore, there is a freshness \and .raciness
about higrambling that disarms criticism, and commands forgiveness, though: he mingles
Nelson, Peel, and Wellington, with Pouters, Croppers, and Tumblers} and hesitates not
a moment to wander from the Dovecoté' to Wellington’s F uneral, the Crystal Palace,-and
even his father’s day of nativity! ~ He is, in truth, the most vagrant of scribes—but there
is a carelessness of rules, and an earnestriess of purpose, that defies and disarms censure,
It is rendered a very readable book by its imperfections, and we ,should: be sorry to have
it pruned into regularity. The general detail of management, and more: especially,
perhaps, the mysteries of “ cross:maiching,” and the selection of breeding-stock;: with a
view to the result desired in the progeny, are ably explained, with a liberalityothat is not
always manifested ‘by those individuals to’ whom the designation: of? “fancier”? more
properly belongs. ‘The author, indéed, expresses appréhension that his endeavours to aid
the novice in pigeon-breeding may be ¢onsidered as an infringement 6f. the brotherhood,
but the higher, on this very ground, should be the award of merit and approbation...-The
feeling referred to existed among those to whom other ‘birds, besides Pigeons, : were an
object of interest ; and this, had ‘@ Bantam fancier, some thirty years since, produced
such a volume explanatory of his favorite’s pedigree and management, less uncertainty
would now prevail, though the atthor’s subsequent ‘position among “ the gentlemen. of
the fancy ” would probably have been far'from enviable.

One great merit for which Mr. Eaton’s book deserves a position on the shelves of:every
pigeon-keeper arises from its value as a record for upwards of'100 years of the various
standards and points of excellence in the different’ varieties. It is'so far from being the
ex parte statement of the views and prejudices of dn individual, that authorities, past
and present, pro and con, are fairly placed in review before the reader, to whom
Mr. Eaton then explains the reasons on which his own judgment would be grounded.

If we express a wish for any curtailment of the length to which the treatise has been
prolonged, it proceeds from our belief that the more material portions of his work would
thus have been more readily reached, and presented in a clearer form: to the eye.
Grammatical accuracy would have avoided many confused passages, and there are some
fey allusions ‘to ‘sacred names and subjects that are not introduced with the:respect and
reverence we should have desired. Should another edition be called for, such alterations
and. corrections would render the book still more generally popular. — Essentially .a
practical work, it cannot fail, if properly employed, of answering the expectations of
those who may purchase it, either with a view to mere rudimentary knowledge, ory the
acquisition of some 6f those dearly-cherished’ and. scrupulously-guarded secrets) of the
« fancy ” that,are here boldly revealed for public information. 13

Enough has been said’ to shew our estimatd of the value of Mr. Eaton’s production,
so let us now pass a.step onwards, atid regard the pigeon-fancier generally, with respect
to the present system of exhibiting their birds at our Poultry Shows. -

Horror and dismay, we imagine, would be manifestly pourtrayed on the countenances
of many a member of the Columbarian, or similar Societies, were it proposed to place
their cherished Carriers, Pouters, or Tumblers, under the same rules and principles. ‘of
competition as the Birmingham, Metropolitan, and other leading Associations of the

“Se

——— pa ae CS nae no i = a

same description would require, Our remarks, hitherto tolerated, may here, perchance,
be so utterly repugnant to long-cherished: opinions that brook no contradiction, that
the columns of our brother contributors may share;the flames to which our own rashness
may have exposed this present production. But we have a firm conviction that much
was erroneous im the arbitrary standard of the pigeon-fancier of the present and former
days, that may be rectified by the better principle of recent arrangements. ee
Let us take the case of the Carrier, for instance: in: this, as in every other bird, or
quadruped, of which we propose’ to ourselves the production in the most perfect form,
we consider how far figure, and the other conditions of its existence, may. be best adapted
to the special object’that we have in view. With the Carrier, the power of traversing
reat ‘distances in the shortest space of time would, unquestionably, be the point we
should all aim’at; and the person, therefore, who is selected to arbitrate on. the merits

of competing birds, should scan their capabilities with particular reference. to this one

point; “ feather,” might turn the scale, if equality existed in the more material.features.
Now let us turn to Mr. Eaton as a faithful opponent of the standard, according, to which
judgment would now be pronounced by.a member of a Society. specially constituted for
the Pigeon fancy. At page 40, we find that, according to Mr. Moore, “‘.a Carzier. is

. generally reckoned to have twelve pt rties, namely :—Three in the beak; three in the

wattle; three in the head ; three in the eye. Here it is evident that the points of merit
are wholly limited to’a very small portion only of the bird, the head ; and we are, con-
sequently, prepared to learn that more recent authorities have extended the area over
which judgment should be given, while they limit the points, or properties, to five,f
namely, the beak, the wattle, the head, the eye, and lastly, the length and thinness o
neck, and the length of body. But ‘even’ here “feather” is excluded from the formal

-enumeration of what will be considered as points of merit, contrary, as we think, to,the

principles on which “a bird of any kind, designed for other purposes than those of the
table should be judged of, Ifit be said that this matters not with the Carrier, because

‘its capabilities of accomplishing extended flight are the main object we have in view,
- and, therefore, that, like a good horse, ‘a Carrier cannot be of a bad colour, .we are

perfectly ready to assent to the assertion. But other features, be it remembered, beyond
those that would conduce to great powers of flight, are arbitrarily brought into. the cal-
culation, some, indeed, that might well be thought likely to defeat that very object; why,
therefore, should we not gratify our eye by having-a bird of handsome plumage, aswell
one with the wattle, or the orbit, of unnatural’size. ‘With respect: to the wattle, indeed,
we might say, so far as it is truly a characteristic of the Carrier, let) us see to ‘its due

preservation; but why breed for such a bloated amplification of this featyre, as.must

tend to obstruct the very object for which the bird itself is valued. Wecmight just as
well design the lines for a vessel with a view to extreme speed, and then suspend over
her finely-drawn bows a couple of hogsheads to deaden her way through the water. -The
extended beak, the long, narrow, and flat head, the thin neck, the muscular formation
of the chest, and the well-developed wing, are all in character; but all, at the same
time, directly append to the disproportionate size of the bloated excrescense of the
wattle, now so greatly coveted. ge ee = es

With the “ Tumbler,” again, extraordinary agility in the air, the facility with which
what in the circus is termed the “ back spring,” is performed by them, is the property
that would have first brought the birds possessing it into favour, and which should ever
since have been borne in view by their subsequent admirers. But we learn from Mr.
Eaton (page 22, Almond Tumbler), it is not desirable to allow them their liberty, “since
they are extremely weak and timid, and the least blast of wind would blow them.down
the chimneys, or one bird playing against another would have the same effect.” Nor are
we more likely to cultivate the variety from being told that the property of “ shoriness
of face,” including the most diminutive form to which the bill can possibly be reduced,
is carried to that extent that the young birds eases dies in the shell from the stunted
proportions of this member being unable to chip'through its case ; and, even supposing
it succeeds in this, that the same unnatural reduction of the parent’s will prevent their
feeding their young, who must, therefore, be cither transferred to other Pigeons who
have not thus suffered from the freaks of fancy, or else starve.

One more instance, and we have done. The epitome of excellence in a “ Powter”
is made to consist of a huge globular swelling of the throat, slenderness of girt, and
length of legs. We are certainly at a loss to conceive how any combination of those

_ “properties” can be made subservient to the graceful appearance of any variety of birds

that, like the Pigeon, possesses such natural elegance of form, and is in every respect, so
calculated for its habits of existence. ¥

If we are here met with a declaration that the “Gentlemen of the Fancy ” have a
right to select such standards of excellence as custom has bequeathed to them, and
have, too, endowed with special beauty in their own eyes, all we have to reply amounts
to this, that they have a perfect right to gratify their “fancy,” only we are unwilling to
recognise that word as synonymous with beauty of appearance, or hamony with the
unvarying combination of beauty ‘and aptitude for their sevexal conditions which se
tinguishes every work of nature, 5 .

= ———

‘Such abnormal productions as we have here: alluded to may have many parallel instances
in’ other aninials: among them the unfortunate ‘Creepers and. Jumpers,’ among the
Bentams of former days ; and the toy terrier of our own, but in the latter instance, we
may still retain symmetry, although utility is lost. ;In the, vegetable world, the labour
of a life is thought by the Chinaman to be. well recompensed. by the stunted proportions of
an orange-tree, or myrtle,’ or the diminutive club feet of /his wife: and ie

: Fashion will probably long continue to exert influence. in encouraging similar eccentric
results; but if there‘are still: found those’ who reject the just proportions of the natural
form in favout of such deformities, let: them be satisfied with theirmsuecess in having so
far’ distorted the usual laws by which) both the animal and vegetable kingdoms are
governed, without desiring the acquiescence of others, to their own theory of beauty, based
on eccentricity, and‘contradiction to the requirements, as well as the natural condition,
of the subject they choose to operate on. In just. comparison. to what we have now
complained of, may be mentioned the treatment of the beautiful ‘‘ Archangel ’’ Pigeon,
recently introduced into'this country, The “ Pigeon-fancy ”’ look with disfavour on this
bird; and the question is asked, What are we to do with it! Is there any hope of
breédine’it up to the beak and wattle of the Carrier, or down to the beak and bullet-head
°of the Tumbler!* To’ neither, if-our entreaties may be: heard ; for. rarely have colours

‘Bééh so well‘spotted, or figure and proportions Prappily adapted; as in this singularly ©
Stiiking addition’to our list of Pigeons. » Let well alone,” is a. good. old motto: and
we shall be well content tofind to see Pouters overbalancing themselves on the house-tops ;
Carriets too precious to. leave their owner's: loft ; and. Tumblers without the power of
using’ their wings; ifthe Archangel and others of the genus‘be left to.us in the state in

“which we are now 0 fortunate as. to possess them, and towards which perfection. the
breeders art, we imagine, done but “little.:, To. those whose patience has carried them
through theseremarks our méaning will be plain; it may, indeed, be. thus briefly summed

» up, that the'principle on which Pigeons are now being shown at our general Poultry ||

_ Exhibitions ‘is more likely to.lead to their production in a better form, both as regards

\© beauty of appearance, and. agreement with the properties and characteristics of the different
‘warieties, than where, as now and in former days, regard was exclusively given to certain
exaggerated forms’of their particular parts and members.

Nothing; however, is farther from/our intention or wish than any depreciation of the
merits of Mr. Eaton’s work: he is'a faithful exponent of the views of those whom he
designates as “ the F aney,” and the guarantee of long experiénce will render. his treatise
valuable to many who, like ourselves, are fond. of his favourite birds, without being
biassed by a standard which, we conceive to be rather. at variance with the power and ~
properties on which excellence’ should be established.

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