938 The Zoologist— October, 1867. 



and delicate high-class varieties, it is useless to attempt to rear the 

 young during the colder months of the year, and therefore it is desir- 

 able to separate the sexes after moulting time, or in the autumn. This 

 is most readily done by dividing the loft. If the birds are flown, the 

 division should be so arranged that the cocks and hens can be let out 

 separately, and they may be given their liberty on alternate days." — 

 p. 41. 



"Another appliance very necessary to the health and comfort of the 

 birds must not be overlooked, that is the washing pan. Pigeons are 

 not dusting-birds, like fowls, but, on the contrary, cleanse themselves 

 by washing : they are fond of lying down in shallow pools of water, 

 expanding their wings, loosening the arrangement of the feathers, and 

 then, when the plumage is well nigh saturated, they give a vigorous 

 shake, and the water at once becomes white and milky with the scurf 

 thrown from off from the skin of the bird. 



" When kept in aviaries or in lofts it is cruel to deprive them of this 

 pleasure so conducive to their well-doing; and therefore shallow pans 

 of water should be provided. In our own lofts we use milk-pans for 

 the purpose ; but any broad, open vessels capable of holding two or 

 three inches depth of water will answer equally well." — p. 45. 



In his descriptions of varieties Mr. Tegetmeier has reversed the order 

 that a naturalist would have preferred, that of tracing the pigeon from 

 its wild condition to its most distorted, extreme, and unnatural form and 

 colour : he explains that his departure from the course is a concession 

 to the pigeon-fanciers. 



" In treating of the different varieties of breeds of domestic pigeons, 

 either one of two methods might be pursued. A naturalist would 

 regard it as most desirable to commence with the wild species, and 

 trace the different breeds from it ; taking in the first instance those 

 that showed the least departure from their wild progenitors. Such a 

 method of procedure would, however, not be acceptable to the fancier, 

 who regards the natural bird with slight esteem, and values his speci- 

 mens precisely in proportion as they depart from the original 

 standard. 



" As this work is on the domesticated pigeons, and is written for the 

 use of the fancier rather than for that of the naturalist, it is more desirable 

 to commence with the most highly valued varieties; and therefore the 

 so-called high-class birds, the pouters, carriers and short-faced tumblers, 

 will first engage our attention, as these breeds with some few others, 



