CHAP, i.] ANCIENT PIGEON-FANCIERS. 17 



necessary to observe, was always abundant in Egypt ; 

 for no instance occurs in the sculptures of fowls or 

 pigeons among the stock of the farm-yard, though geese 

 are repeatedly introduced, and numbered in the presence 

 of the stewards."* 



Aristotle appears to intend to confine himself to the 

 description of the wild species of Pigeon only, and 

 mentions five corresponding with those now seen in 

 Europe and Western Asia ; but in the classical period 

 they are repeatedly spoken of as well known, and no 

 novelty, only dear; just as choice Almond Tumblers 

 and Powters were with us twenty or thirty years ago, 

 when they were more the fashion than they are at this 

 moment ; and as Bronze- wings, Crowned Pigeons, and 

 other foreign rarities still are, and will be, till they 

 increase more rapidly. A few slight hints on the pecu- 

 liarities of these old kinds are here and there to be 

 picked up. Thus we learn from Columella (viii. 8), 

 that the Alexandrine and Campanian Pigeons were, 

 alieni generis, distinct breeds, and not advisable to 

 couple together. Pliny tells us that the latter were the 

 largest of Pigeons, Runts, in fact ; we may therefore 

 suppose that the taste of the Alexandrian fanciers was 

 more in favour of the smaller kinds, such as the 

 Tumblers, or the Nuns an old-established race, and 

 no doubt much more ancient than their Christian 

 namesakes. 



It is commonly taken for granted that the Pigeon 

 Fancy is 'a modern taste; but it is clear, from many 

 'passages in the classics, that a number of different sorts 

 were cultivated by the ancients, though we have fewer 



* Ancient Egyptians, vol. iii. p. 35. 



