|'l(ii:)N> AND ALL AIJOUT THEM. 



\..\\ a man should not start with one variety and become 

 dtsu;i>ted and try others one after the other. He will find it 

 a losing nnr.ip. No man can sell a whole loft of one type for 

 what it is worth, neither can a man buy other birds, such as 

 he \\ants and needs, just at the time he would like to get 

 them. The best lofts are made up of a bird or a pair bought 

 here and another there, just as the opportunity occurs. It is 

 a matter f record that I once bought a whole loft of about 

 tift\ birds to get ( ne cock that I wanted, and I am free to 

 admit that lie didn't throw birds nearly as good as himself 

 and 1 was glad to sell him. So it will be seen that the best 

 of us <^ei picked up. 



<;r:intinu that the reader has finally decided on the variety 

 <>f pigeon he feels would suit him, a still harder part of the 

 work (iimes. for he must exercise judgment in the selection 

 of his breeding stock. 



Abnit the worst thing a man can do, is to get reckless and 

 try to buy up all the prize winners he can obtain. 



hi this book I want to be truthful. I don't want any man 

 or boy to say l l read your book and believed you and you 

 misled me." Therefore I want to make the plain statement 

 that if I were buying for myself I would noibuy prize winners 

 from anybody, with which to stock my loft, for the reason that 

 as a rule prize winners do not breed birds as good as them- 

 >elves. The average prize winner is generally bred from 

 parents one or both of which are by no means typical speci- 

 mens of their breed. 



The parents have the blood, but they are often defective 

 in the main points for which their standard calls. 



The prize winner is simply a tribute to the good judgment 

 of i he breeder who has the skill to mate two birds for "points" 

 in their offspring. Let the average fancier buy two winners 

 and mate them and the chances are that theywillprodu.ee 

 specimens in no wise equal to themselves. This is why so 



