PIGEONS. 321 



as they are very susceptible of cold, they require to be protected from 

 the chills of winter. Turtle-doves may be fed with any kind of 

 grain, peas, beans, and such like. They soon become tame in con- 

 finement, and caress those who feed them. The best thing to keep 

 them in is a warm cage ; there are cages made purposely for them. 



THE COMMON PIGEON. 



Common pigeons are generally blue or ash coloured, with white 

 backs and red legs ; but by paying attention to the crossing of breeds, 

 their plumage may be enriched with tinges of copper, yellow, and 

 other lively colours. They require very little care, and are very pro- 

 lific, breeding seven or eight times a year, laying two eggs each time, 

 which generally produce a male and female ; and it is amusing to 

 watch the eagerness of the male to sit on the eggs while the female 

 rests and feeds herself. The young, when hatched, require no food 

 for some time but what they receive from the female. 



THE FAN-TAIL, OR BROAD- TAILED SHAKER. 



This beautiful variety of the pigeon 

 tribe receives the name of FAN-TAIL 

 from its habit of spreading out the 

 feathers of its tail like a turkey-cock, 

 and that of BROAD-TAILED SHAKER from 

 its breadth of tail, and a peculiar 

 quivering motion of its neck. It has 

 a full breast, and a short, handsomely 

 formed, arched neck, which it carries 

 in a graceful, swan- like curve. Its 

 tail, according to the rules of the fancy, 

 should consist, at the least, of twenty- 



four feathers, and at the most of thirty-six, whica number it should 

 not exceed, for if the tail is over- crowded with feathers, the bird 

 suffers it to droop, a defect never passed over, although the bird may 

 be faultless in every other respect. Fan tails whose plumage is pure 

 white are more highly prized than those displaying red, yellow, blue, 

 and black- pied colours, their carriage of the neck and tail being con- 

 sidered by far the most striking and elegant. 



THE NARROW-TAILED SHAKER. 



Some fanciers are of opinion that this bird is a breed between the 

 broad- tailed shaker and the stock- dove, whilst others imagine that it 

 is a distinct species. Its neck is shorter and thicker, back longer, 

 and it has not so many tail-feathers as the broad- tailed shaker, 

 neither does it expand its tail so fully, keeping the feathers rather 

 closed one over the other, so as to resemble a fan when some little 

 way open. The colour of its plumage is generally white, but a few 

 different tints, and even an almond variety, are to be met with occa- 

 s ; onally. 



