4 FANCY PIGEONS. 



Reference by Latin Authors. 



The best evidence that the pigeon fancy existed in ancient 

 times much as it does to-day, is found in the Natural 

 History of Pliny (23-79 a.d.) (Book X., chap, lii.-liii.), where he 

 says : " Many persons have quite a mania for pigeons, building 

 houses for them on the tops of their roofs, and taking 

 delight in relating the pedigree and noble origin of each. 

 Of this there is an ancient instance that is very remarkable : 

 L. Axius, a Roman of the Equestrian order, shortly before 

 the civil war of Pompeius, sold a single pair for four 

 hundred denarii (about £13), as we learn from the writings 

 of M. Varro (114-26 B.C.). Countries, even, have gained renown 

 for their pigeons ; it is thought that those of Campania 

 attain the largest size." 



Columella, a contemporary of Pliny, also quotes from M. 

 Varro as to the value of fancy pigeons, from which it 

 appears that pairs were often sold at about £8, and occasionally 

 for four times as much. 



The use of domestic pigeons in time of war, to enable the 

 inhabitants of besieged towns to communicate with their 

 friends outside, was known at this period, as we learn from 

 Pliny, who states that they were so employed at the siege 

 of Modena (43 B.C.). Since then they have been often em- 

 ployed in like manner, as I shall mention hereafter. 



Juvenal (3-83 a.d.), the Roman poet, refers to the keep- 

 ing of pigeons in the garrets of Rome, just as they are kept 

 to-day by fanciers in all large towns. Describing a fire in 

 the city, he says : 



For if the lowest floors already burn. 

 Cocklofts and garrets soon will take their turn, 

 Where thy tame pigeons next the tiles were bred, 

 Which, in their nests unsafe, are timely fled. 



From this period there is not much information available 

 on the subject till about the year 1600. Gibbon states that 



