ORIENTAL FRILL PIGEONS. 



But although white handkerchiefs were em- 

 ployed, with moisture, to try and extract any 

 colouring matter, it was always without avail. 

 Such treatment did not, however, disturb *' The 

 Dragoon King" very much . He knew quite well 

 that it was only a question of time and that all 

 such ignorance would be dispelled. When 

 asked, as oft times he was, how he produced those 

 beautiful ceres, he would reply: " Obtain the 

 right strain of birds and keep them as Nature 

 dictates to you." 



DICTATES OF NATURE. 



My young friends, there is a lot in those five 

 words — ' ' As Nature dictates to you . ' ' Keep the 

 sentence well in mind. This was the chief 

 feature in Mr. Woods' success. I don't say it 

 was all, because the sound colour was the founda- 

 tion. His blues were sound in colour all over. 

 But the birds in the daytime had the advantage 

 of fresh air and the sun, Mr. W^oods' lofts being 

 so arranged that the birds could utilise the roof, 

 which was open to the sky, and was practically 

 as good as flying out in the open. The birds 

 having their liberty, and especially as the 

 aviaries were spacious and a good height, did 

 very well. I have given this description to 

 emphasise the value of having plenty of sun and 

 fresh air in your lofts and aviaries. 



Wlien I resided at Knowle, about eleven 

 miles out of Birmingham, I built my lofts 



68 



