Shops — Trapping — Shooting, 181 



would not produce more than five. The 

 pigeon shops generally seem the abode of 

 poverty and misery, of which tlie poor un- 

 fortunate birds, crammed into baskets and 

 narrow koops, obviously partake in the ful- 

 lest measure. This fancy is a great favour- 

 ite witli certain of the lower classes in the 

 Metropolis, and perhaps too generally inju- 

 rious to their better interests. Their com- 

 mon method of entrapping stray pigeons, 

 the property of other people, does not well 

 consist with an honest principle, takes up 

 too much of the time of those who practise 

 it, and leads to loose and irregular habits. 

 Pigeon shooting is another purpose to 

 which these birds are applied, and of which, 

 annual details are to be found in the news- 

 papers. 



It is necessary to apprize tlie reader, 

 that I have never had the honour to be initi- 

 ated in the pigeon fancy, but have been 

 simply a keeper of pigeons, for the use of 

 the table, with some additional pleasure in 

 their flight, and a degree of attention tp 

 those breeds which are of the largest size. 



