402 FANCY PIGEONS. 



Eaton's 1858 Treatise, containing in all 200 pages, and thirty 

 coloured illustrations of pigeons, two of wliicli (the Almond 

 Tumbler) are identical, includes tlie wliole of his previous writ- 

 ings, together with additional information on the subject, 

 taken chiefly from Brent's articles on pigeons. It is an epitome 

 of what had previously been published in this country on the 

 subject. Eaton sets all rules of grammar and composition at 

 defiance, introduces irrelevant anecdotes, and tells them in a 

 rambling fashion; but there is no doubt his book is a most 

 entertaining aud instructive one. I believe the author was 

 once in good business as a tailor at Islington ; but his latter 

 days were sadly clouded with misfortune. In 1862, I found 

 him keeping a pigeon shop in the City Road. A circular he 

 used to send to secretaries of shows, to induce them to order 

 copies of his books and pigeon portraits, which were some- 

 times given as prizes, is a great curiosity. The copy I have 

 is lithographed, from his own peculiar cramped handwriting, 

 on two-and-a-half leaves of paper 15in. by 6in. It is an 

 amusing production, and the space for the date and address 

 is filled up by himself: "Monday, 18th Dec, 1865. To the 

 Right Worshipful the Mayor of Cork. May your Show be 

 crowned with success." 



(1.) "The Pigeon Book; wherein all the known 

 Yarieties of the Domestic Pigeon are Described and 

 Classified. By B. P. Brent. London : Cottage Gardener 

 Office, 162, Fleet Street." Small 8vo, 114 pages. No date 

 (about 1860). 



(2.) " The Pigeon Book : containing the Description 

 AND Classification of all the Known Varieties of 

 the Domestic Pigeon, By B. P. Brent. Second Edition. 

 London: Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener Office, 

 171, Fleet Street." 114 pages. No date (about 1865). 



(3.) "The Pigeon Book: containing the Description 

 AND Classification of all the Known Varieties of 

 THE Domestic Pigeon. By B. P. Brent. Third Edition. 



