HUMOURS OF THE "FANCY' 197 



caring in the least whether it will be useful or able 

 to lay eggs or good to eat. Where, then, is the 

 solution of the cottage problem and the benefit to 

 humanity ? Gone for ever. There were many and 

 bitter protests, and the result was a third kind of 

 chicken of a highly useful character. 



But the fanciers do excellent work in providing 

 amusement, and even profit, for numbers of people 

 who would otherwise have no scope for surplus 

 energy. They create a demand for other people to 

 supply. When prize Belgian hares are sold for 

 ^60, and even larger sums, and guinea-pigs for ^20, 

 to go to America and the Colonies, while breeding 

 prize pigeons and canaries has become a national 

 industry, it is difficult to foresee the future limits of 

 the fancy. We imagine that fish or iguanas may 

 eventually find a place beside the birds and rabbits, 

 the cavies and the mice. To suggest new objects 

 for clubs and associations to raise to the dignity 

 of a " class " in shows, and later to have shows all 

 to themselves, is one of the dreams of good 

 fanciers. Generally the animals taken up are in 

 some way neglected breeds, or poor relations of 

 others which have either reached perfection or have 

 been so spoiled by " over showing " that they are no 

 longer admired, and show their unfitness for survival 

 by failing to survive at all. Most people who are 

 not in the fancy think that carrier pigeons are 

 pigeons which can carry messages. But carrier pigeons 

 had wattles, and these were so developed by the 

 show breeders that at last they needed to have their 



