54 FANCY PIGEONS. 



stress on this point ; and although a good bird can never 

 look very bad, though dirty, one equally good in spotless 

 plumage looks very much better. A good deal may be done 

 for dirty birds by careful washing with soap and soft water; 

 but washed birds have never the finish of those that do not 

 require it. A practice that cannot be too strongly depre- 

 cated is oiling or greasing the plumage to improve the colour. 

 Birds so treated should never receive notice at the hands 

 of a judge. 



Exhibition Pens. 



The best exhibition pens for pigeons are those of the bee- 

 hive shape, made with galvanised wire; and a good thing for 

 strewing them with is the husk of oats, though coarse pine 

 sawdust is better than nothing. Each pen should have water 

 and food tins, so placed that the birds can reach them with- 

 out trouble. When thrown on the bottom of the pen, food 

 soon gets soiled, and heavily wattled pigeons, accustomed to 

 feed from hoppers, are unable to feed from the floor. 



Walking Pens. 



For judging pouters and fantails, a large walking pen 

 should always be provided, as it is impossible to judge them 

 properly otherwise; and, unless exhibitors see the process of 

 adjudication for themselves, they should be sparing of criti- 

 cism afterwards, as pouters, being pigeons chiefly of shape 

 and carriage, look very different when standing on a block 

 than when on their mettle in the show-pen. 



