156 VARIETIES DOVECOTE PRODUCE. 



cessful use of pigeons as messengers, it appears to 

 be one of those ancient arts said to be buried in the 

 grave of time, which has not hitherto encountered 

 resurrection. The present price of a pair of car- 

 riers is about six guineas. 



The following imperfect account of pigeons used 

 and sold from a Berkshire dove-cote, in 1807, is ex- 

 tracted from the Survey : 147 used in the house, 

 at 5s. per dozen, 31. Is. 3d. Sold 550 for 101. 15s. 

 10|d.=131. 17s. IJd. The DUNG estimated at one- 

 fourth of their return per annum. 



NEW GUINEA pigeons are said, in some Lady's 

 Voyage to India, nearly to equal the turkey in size ; 

 of a slate colour, with a crest of gauze feathers, 

 some inches high, in the form of a fan ; the iris of 

 the eye bright vermilion. 



By my memoranda, in 1801, I observe, that sixty- 

 five pairs of old pigeons, and one hundred and forty 

 squeakers of all sizes, regularly fed, consumed in 

 one week, five pecks of the smallest beans, and ten 

 quarts of seeds. The above old stock, without any 

 young, consumed about half the quantity. 



From the same. FAN-TAILS or SHAKERS, the head 

 always in motion, are a beautiful stock, and good 

 breeders, but so stupid and silly, as scarcely to be 

 capable of taking care of themselves, or finding their 

 home. RUNTS, although so much larger, breed as 

 fast and equally forward as Tumblers. The dura- 

 tion of life in the pigeon is said to extend to about 

 twenty years, and it is deemed full aged when the 

 wings are full of the quill feathers. 



According to Acts 7 and 8 Geo. 4. Sect. 33, 



