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THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



ferent times as a side issue, and have 

 observed still other kinds at the shows, 

 I will in a following article attempt 

 to describe briefly some of the better 

 known forms. Following that, I will 

 take up more specifically that, to me, 

 most charming variety of pigeons, the 

 fantail: 



For the present let us consider in 

 a general way, some of the duties and 

 pleasures which come to the breeder 

 of fancy pigeons. To the true fancier, 



clean hobby. The amount of time 

 required to care for a loft of from 

 fifty to one hundred birds is not so 

 great as to become arduous. I spend 

 on an average possibly half an hour 

 a day in the loft, and would be re- 

 luctant to miss this little "oasis" in 

 the day's routine. 



True there may come troubles, and dis- 

 appointments, but (to one who has the 

 true fancier's spirit and the pluck to 

 persevere) these are soon forgotten, 



A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SOME OF MR. BUTLER'S FANTAIL PIGEONS. 



the duties are also pleasures, which 

 is the key to the claims that I shall 

 make for this hobby as an ideal pas- 

 time and recreation, for as some one 

 has well said, "Change of occupation is 

 true recreation." 



I say "hobby" with no apologies 

 for the word nor all it implies. More- 

 over I am inclined to believe that 

 "there is something wrong with the 

 man without a hobby." It is at least 

 true that any one who is as busy as 

 he should be needs just such relaxa- 

 tion, recreation and whole hearted en- 

 joyment as may be derived from a 



except as we may profit by such ex- 

 periences. That there is need for study 

 of the subject if one would succeed, 

 is well known to old fanciers, and 

 soon becomes apparent to those just 

 starting' in the pursuit. I do not say 

 this to discourage the boy who would 

 keep pigeons, but for those who are 

 older and are willing and eager to study 

 whatever they attempt to do. As for 

 the boy who "grows up with the birds," 

 his "study" of the subject will be both 

 natural and most valuable, derived 

 chiefly from that greatest of teachers — 

 experience. 



