182 Former Tracts — Brecdins^, 



O' 



On the subject of the fancy, the bei^t autho- 

 rity with which I am acquainted, is a Trea- 

 tise CD jDoniestic Pigeons, pubhshed by 

 Barry, of Fenchurch street, in 1765, with 

 very good plates, descriptive of the chief 

 fancy varieties. That treatise had been 

 preceded by IMoore's Cokimbarium. The 

 only breeds which I have kept, exclusive of 

 the common, were tumblers, horsemen, 



CARRIERS, TURTLES, DRAGOONS, (cOmmonly 



called dragons), and run.ts ; the latter, 

 both Spanish and Leghorn, for their great 

 size. As breeders, do fancy pigeons will, 

 in general, equal the common dove-house 

 kind, unless perhaps with great care and 

 attention. 



The PIGEON is mohoganous, that is, the 

 male attaches and confines himself to one 

 female, and the attachment is reciprocal ; 

 the fidelity of the dove to its mate being 

 proverbial. Young pigeons are termed 

 SQUEAKERS, and begin to -breed at about 

 the age of six months, when properly ma- 

 naged : their courtship, and the well kno^^n 

 tone of voice in the cock, just then acquired 



