10 PIGJ&GN RAISING 



squabs for market, they will cling confidingly to 

 you and gaze at you with frightened eyes of 

 reproach from their baskets as they are driven 

 away by the expressman, for they are as near 

 human beings as it is possible for fowls to be. 

 I have known strong men to give up the busi- 

 ness on account of this, but as such things must 

 be, I will endeavor to do good from a humane 

 view, by devoting an entire chapter to explain- 

 ing the nature and habits of pigeons. 



Princes, poets, prelates, judges, and ladies of 

 high degree have been in the ranks of the 

 pigeon fancier during ages past, for "pigeon 

 fancy " antedates the Christian era, and we 

 have record that they took " keen pleasure in 

 their pigeon lofts and the company of their 

 birds." 



The results these great people accomplished 

 appear marvelous when we examine the various 

 breeds that have sprung, as Darwin assures us, 

 from the parent stock of the rock-pigeon, or 

 wild pigeon, of Europe and North Africa. It 

 was love for their birds that enabled them to 

 accomplish these results, that gave them the 

 patience to persevere through discouragements. 

 Gentleness, kindness, and patience are the first 

 requisites for the pigeon raiser to possess? 

 coupled with a clear, methodical business head, 



