DOMESTIC PIGEONS 231 



birds have lived in the dovecotes. These dovecote birds 

 are not all of the barred type, many showing chequering 

 on the wing coverts, the first variation the Rock Dove shows 

 in captivity. It is this innate tendency to variation that has 

 given us our wonderful array of modern breeds. Once 

 the bounds of normal plumage have been passed, almost 

 anything is possible. Albinos must have occurred among 

 these birds, as among others, and their appearance would 

 quickly lead to pied forms. Other colors appeared, either 

 as distinct mutations or as slight differences which were 

 quickly seized upon by the breeders. The slightest tendency 

 to crests, feathered legs, frills or other abnormalities was 

 fixed and improved with a zeal which now seems nothing 

 short of amazing. But the chief types of pigeons undoubt- 

 edly are very old, a legacy from forgotten centuries. 



Of the actual breeds of those old times we know little; 

 it is probable that they would not be recognized today as 

 the ancestors of our modern kinds. But the eastern coun- 

 tries became the birthplace of many types now well known — 

 the Fantail, the Owls, the Oriental Frills, certain types of 

 Tumblers and probably others. Most of these birds have 

 been developed and greatly improved since their introduc- 

 tion to western Europe, where many new varieties were 

 created. On the other hand, in some groups the East has 

 more than held its own; Smyrna is still famous for the 

 wonderful Oriental Frills produced there. 



General Care 



Pigeon-keepers may be divided into three groups: those 

 whose birds live in a state of semi-liberty breeding entirely 

 without control and receiving little or no attention; those 

 who breed squabs on a commercial basis, and have no inter- 

 est in their birds beyond the weight of edible flesh they can 



