116 FANCY PIGEONS. 



ing little pictures painted on boards, and in the evening 

 assemble together to use the scourge on their bare backs." 

 About the time that Moore wrote his " Columbarium," Dr. 

 Domenico Vandelli was writing a description of the sport 

 carried on with pigeons by the Triganieri, which differs 

 but little from that in vogue at the present day. The dove- 

 cotes of the Modenese fanciers are on the roofs of the houses, 

 and they are surrounded by stepped platforms, on which the 

 Triganieri stand, directing the flight of their pigeons by the 

 waving of a little flag at the end of a pole. The flag, some 

 grain of which the birds are fond, and the shrill whistle of 

 the owner (instead of which a cornet was used in olden 

 times), are all the means used for directing them. The object 

 of the sport is the pleasure of making them fly as required, 

 and the capture of birds belonging to enemies. Some of the 

 phrases used will illustrate the methods employed. 



Guastare, is to let loose for flight one or more pigeons for 

 the first time. 



Sparare, is to let loose for flight, and to send round in 

 circles, the pigeons already trained. 



Mischiare, is to join together, and confuse in one single 

 band, the various flying bands which belong to several Tri- 

 ganieri, taught to do this by a signal given them by their 

 respective masters. 



Strappare, is the sudden division and separation of the united 

 bands, at the whistle of any Triganiere, who thus calls back 

 his band to his own roof, when they are all united together. 



Scavezzare, is the signal which the Triganiere makes with 

 his flag to his band, when he observes, mingled with his own 

 birds, one or more strange pigeons, which they can more 

 easily surround, and bring to his dovecote. 



Avvujare, is to induce a band, into which some strange 

 pigeons have been brought, to fly backwards and forwards in 

 long-continued flights around the dovecote, in order to seize a 

 favourable opportunity of making them descend all together. 



