156 SHOOTING MISERIES FORMER WRITERS. 



method of entrapping stray pigeons, the property of 

 other people, does not well consist with an honest 

 principle, takes up too much of the time of those 

 who practise it, and leads to loose and irregular 

 habits. PIGEON SHOOTING is another purpose to 

 which these birds are applied, and of which periodical 

 details are to be found in the newspapers. Battersea- 

 fields are the chief theatre of the sport. 



"Few people, even those accustomed to reflect 

 on animal sufferings, are aware of those of the 

 wretched town pigeon, harassed about from its first 

 quitting the nest, through the rough hands of scores 

 of unfeeling blackguards; its feathers pulled, its wings 

 braced, starved, and forced to fly against its inclina- 

 tion, matched, then unmatched, and its dearest ties 

 broken ; sold, resold, exposed in cages, immured in 

 cellars, coal-holes, and loaded with every misery which 

 can be inflicted by the wanton caprice, neglect, and 

 beastly ignorance, of the two-legged race, its tyrants." 

 British Field Sports. 



It is necessary to apprise the reader, that I have 

 never had the honour to be initiated in the pigeon 

 fancy, but have been simply a keeper of pigeons, 

 for the use of the table, with some additional plea- 

 sure in their flight, and a degree of attention to 

 those breeds which are of the largest size. On the 

 subject of the fancy, the best authority with which 

 I am acquainted is a Treatise on Domestic Pigeons, 

 published by Barry, of Fenchurch-street, in 1765, 

 with very good plates, descriptive of the chief fancy 

 varieties. That treatise has been succeeded by 

 Moor's Columbarium. The only breeds which I 



