254 OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



squabs has been widely exploited in recent years as a profitable 

 commercial industry. Near large cities where the demand for 

 squabs is good, squab growing on a large scale is sometimes 

 successful. Elsewhere the small flock that can be cared for in 

 the owner's spare time is likely to be more profitable. 



The breeding of fancy pigeons is also almost wholly a spare- 

 time occupation. The demand for fancy pigeons is small in 

 comparison with the demand for fancy poultry, and a pigeon 

 fancier's trade rarely grows so large that he can give his atten- 

 tion to it exclusively. In Europe the breeding of pigeons for 

 exhibition and sport is more popular than in America, but the 

 interest is growing rapidly in this country. 



