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Show -" II ill WH ! , ' ' POULTRY 1 THE PIGEON. - i. C. S. Gorline. For' more than eight hundred years the pigeon has 'been kept in a state of domestication. Where ever civilized man has set his foot some variety of some breed of the pigeon is found. English fanciers recognize -eleven distinct dis-tinct breeds with something like one hundred and eighty varieties. Naturalists Natur-alists arc generally agreed that all of these breeds and varieties arc descenders descen-ders of the wild Rock Pigeon, (Columbia (Col-umbia livia) a species indigenous to Europe, which roosted and built its nest on rocks. The many breeds and varieties arc due to artificial selection and variation under domestication. For many centuries the pigeon has been carefully cared for as a pet and play thing, and to this fact 'and that they so readily yield to cultivation of the fancier is due the many odd and beautiful varieties. The oldest group, or breed of domesticated do-mesticated pigeon, is. the English Pouter, of which there arc three varieties. Pouters stand nearly upright, up-right, and when their crop is inflated, in the act of "pouting," with their trim tailor-made looking suit and heavily feathered shanks and toes, present a most comical appearance. In the second group arc included Carriers , Runts and Barbs. These arc the utility birds in the Pigeon class. During the Feudal nges the Carrier was in great demand and was trained and cared for and developed into its present "usefulness. As a sporting bird they have never been equaled, and of late years have been a- great factor in creating the great squab industry which has become so profitable in some sections. Second only to the Carrier, the Runt1 has been and is a factor in this industry, many squab raisers preferring them even to the pure bred Homer, and other preferring a cross between' the Carrier and the Runt. The English Barb has very much the appearance of the Homer, but with a much! less developed beak. In the third group, the Fantails', we find the first of the older faneied breeds. Fantails have been kept as pets in England from time immemorial, imme-morial, and while considered in the strictly fancy class, as a table bird, whether served as pigeon pic or as squabs, they are most excellent. There are many varieties of the Fan-tails Fan-tails and many of them arc very pleasing pleas-ing in both shape and plumage. In the next group wc have the strictly fancy, the Turbit and Owl. Of all the breeds and varieties bred, there is perhaps no class that has created the intense enthusiasm among fanciers that has been exhibited by j this group. The beautiful and odd lit- tic figures in all shapes and colors arc I truly most lovable and cute beyond J expression. Few boys and but few ; men can withstand the alurements cf these amusing pets. In a group by themselves arc the Tumblers, which derive their name from the peculiar characteristic of often of-ten throwing themselves backward, or tumbling, in the midst of flight in mid air. It is interesting and amusing amus-ing to watch a flock take flight for their daily exercise, which usually oc- curs early in the morning or late in f the evening. The stait is strong and graceful, when without warning, as if from a preconcerted pignal, the whole flock will check "P in mid air and begin be-gin tumbling backward as if stopped by a shot. Some of the choicest pets of this breed arc the Parlor Tumblers, which arc unable to fly, and which may 'be taught at a signal to perform for the spectator. By throwing themselves them-selves backward, they will continue until they have crossed the room. They arc very fond of being petted and arc easily taught to perform, and arc therefore held in high esteem by boy fanciers. In the next group we have another .strictly fancier's bird, namely the Jacobin, which may be recognized at once by the peculiar hood that almost envelops the head. There are many varieties each of which represents some different peculiarity in shape or plumage, but each of which is at once identified as a Jacobin by the frill which is simply an -exaggerated growth of a crest of reversed feathers on the back of the head. In another group we have the Trumpeter, which is a well marked breed with voice unlike that of any other pigeon. The chief characteristic characteris-tic of this group lies in the peculiar habit of rapidly repeating the coo I which is continued for several mo- I ments, hence the name of trumpeters. They are also distinguished from all other breeds by having a tuft of elongated elon-gated feather scurling forward over the base of their 'beak and their feet arc so heavily feathered that they have th'c appearance of abreviatcd wings. I There is perhaps no branch of the fancier's in which' money has been expended ex-pended or more money earned than in the strictly fancy pigeon trade. While prices have never attained the magnitude asked and received for choice specimens of poultry, yet from $50 to $100 per pair for choice breeders, breed-ers, carriers or toys has hot been unusual un-usual and when we consider the enormous enor-mous trade in fancy pigeons in Europe Eu-rope and in America1, it will at once be seen that a large amount of money has been invested. There is also no branch of the strictly fancy in which the average town or country boy or man may engage in which he may so surely count on a profitable investment, invest-ment, as in some one choice variety. Take White Homers for instance. There never yet has been a time when one could not dispose of all that could be produced at profitable figures for choice specimens. Take the Owls or Turbits and we dbubt if any loft in America lias ever been able to supply the demand upon them, if properly advcrtise.l, for choice specimens. Fancy pigeons are like fancy chickens -ins? that ""there ""isb. great demand at good prices for choice specimens, and if the fancier will make the production of fancy birds his aim, he can not but succeed eventually to produce high grade stock, and when he has been able to accomplish this event if he will judiciously ndvcrMsc his stock and can make good in his ' shipments, a steady income may be derived from a calling in which both pleasure and profit are combined. |