60 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



In July 1828, fifty-six carriers brought to London from Liege 

 were flown from the former city at thirty-four minutes past four in 

 the morning. One of them, called Napoleon, returned to his home 

 at twenty-four minutes past ten the same morning, a distance of 

 three hundred miles, having accomplished the journey in five hours 

 and fifty minutes, being about the rate of forty-five miles an hour. 

 The others followed in succession, and nearly all reached Liege before 

 noon. Other matches made before and since show that the maximum 

 speed is about the above rate, and that the bird can maintain it for 

 several hours. 



There is nothing remarkable in the appearance of the carrier or 

 messenger pigeon ; but the horseman, the most esteemed variety of 

 which is called the pouting horseman, has a large distended crop, and 

 exercises very grotesque attitudes, being besides the tamest of the 

 pigeon species, and the most familiar with man. 



The tumbler is distinguished for its peculiar form and variegated 

 plumage, and also for the faculty of tumbling, which it exercises in 

 the air, rising first to a great height, and in its descent performing 

 a succession of somersets in the most extraordinary manner. There 

 is also the fantail, or shaker, so called from the head being always 

 in motion — a fancy pigeon. All these select sorts vary in price, but 

 may be procured of the pigeon-fanciers about town, or from a sales- 

 man in Leadenhall Market. A very superior cock tumbler of the 

 almond breed is even now worth four or five guineas, and thirty or 

 forty years ago could not be purchased for five times that sum. 



All pigeons, whether of the fancy or common kind, require pretty 

 nearly the same treatment ; and as the persons we are addressing 

 would probably maintain them generally for profit as well as show, 

 we shall describe in general terms the best mode of management. 

 The first thing necessary, is to provide a commodious place for the 

 reception of the stock ; and this should, if convenient, be a loft or 

 room, in preference to the cask elevated on a pole, or holes, or coops 

 against the wall of a building. If a loft can be appropriated, there 

 should be a hole left in the roof for entrance and egress, which 

 should be provided with a shutter ; and before the hole a small plat- 

 form must be laid. The coops should be placed against the walls, 

 two for each pair, and the whole frequently whitewashed, the floor 

 being sanded, gravelled, constantly swept, and the dung carried away. 



Next to a room, the pine end of a building well sheltered should 

 be selected— if against a malt-house, or stable, so much the better, 

 on account of the warmth. Instead of the holes being made close 

 together, the following plan is recommended : — Make the apertures 

 about twenty inches deep, and the entrance-holes about twelve inches 

 wide, two and two, taking a space of three feet for every pair of 

 birds. The height between the shelves in a room, or the holes in a 

 coop, may be about two feet. Some prefer the breeding-holes 

 entirely open in front, for greater convenience in clearing the nests ; 

 but it is better to have a small step to prevent the squabs (the 

 young birds) from falling, as they are otherwise apt to do. Food 

 and water should be supplied in such a way (when the birds are 

 confined or fed in a room) as to prevent its being contaminated with 

 their excrement ; earthen pans will answer the purpose very well. 





