BREEDING 85 



tors are looked up at once. They come from 

 no particular breed or color, but from in- 

 breeding. 



The pigeon is unique among the feathered 

 creation in the positive similarity of the sexes, 

 the habits during incubation, the provision for, 

 and manner of, feeding the young, the helpless 

 and crude condition of the young when it leaves 

 the shell, and its rapid development and early 

 maturity. In structural points there are also 

 peculiar differences. The long intestine is of 

 greater length than in any other bird, some va- 

 rieties lack the oil-gland, while all are without 

 the gall-bladder. This latter deficiency in its 

 digestive make-up accounts for the inordinate 

 desire for salt, characteristic of no other bird, 

 which must be considered a craving for an ab- 

 solute essential to its healthful existence. The 

 dangers from the lack of a plentiful supply of 

 salt I have explained in another chapter. 



Another peculiar feature of the pigeon is 

 that the shafts of his feathers are short and 

 downless with but slight hold on the skin. All 

 varieties shed a peculiar dust from the plumage 

 in greater or less quantities, so that any place 

 they occupy will in time be covered with a 

 peculiar bloom called pigeon dust. 



As the fancy breeder breeds for perfection, 



