FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



32? 



cuts would swell the price too high for many that may have 

 a mind to purchase this work ; and, on the contrary, that if 

 they are not delineated with the utmost accuracy, according 

 to their various characteristics, they only puzzle the mind, 

 and render the description of them more obscure, and there- 

 fore I chose rather to have none than bad ones. 



In the sequel of this work, I have endeavored as near as 

 possible to give exact criterions for the knowledge of each 

 distinct species ; and being aware that bare descriptions are 

 often tedious and irksome, I have sometimes endeavored to 

 relax the mind by throwing in some diverting parts of his- 

 tory, which, though not altogether necessary to the main 

 purport of the treatise, will I hope answer the end for which 

 they were designed. 



Being well assured that this book will fall into the hands 

 of many of the illiterate part of mankind, who are altogether 

 ignorant of the terms of art, and even in the meaning of 

 many words of more frequent use among the politer part, I 

 have, for the sake of such, added an alphabetical explanation 

 of the less common words made use_of in this treatise. 



So hoping it will have the desired effect of pushing on 

 some abler pen, I commit it at once to the candid censure of 

 mankind. 



COLUMBARIUM: 



OR, THE PIGEON-HOUSE. 



THE INTRODUCTION. 



Zoology, or the History of Animals, has been a task in 

 all ages deemed worthy the consideration of the best and 

 ablest philosophers, and many branches of this useful history 

 have been handed down to us from them in an elegant and 

 instructive manner, showing us the beauty and wisdom of 

 Providence and our great Creator in the formation of such 

 an almost infinite variety of _creatures, and raising our 

 thoughts to the sublimest notions of that tremendous Being, 

 whose almighty fiat gave them birth ; at the same time 

 teaching us to adore his bounty and goodness in making 

 mankind their superior, and submitting them all to his 

 use. The contemplation of God in his creatures sets us such 

 a lesson of humility as ought to make the proud man blush, 

 and humbly prostrate himself before the throne of that 

 omnipotent invisible Deity, whose hand supports him in 

 common with the brute creation. 



I could wish some abler pen had undertook the work now 

 before me, but having examined most of the writers on these 

 subjects, and finding in them either no account at all, or 

 else a very imperfect and superficial one, which, for want of 

 a due opportunity to examine the bird they were describing, 

 they have generally taken up at random and upon credit, I 

 thought it in some measure incumbent upon me to attempt 

 a natural history of this kind, partly as having in my own 

 house most of the sorts to be described, and partly to pro- 

 voke other gentlemen, who have more skill and ability, to 

 rescue this part of the history of animals from that obscurity 

 it has so long labored under. 



In order therefore to render this treatise (which has been 

 so long due from one part of my countrymen, I mean the 

 naturalists, and so long desired by another), as complete as 

 possible, I shall divide this book into two parts. In the first 



I shall treat of the method of keeping, breeding, and pre- 

 serving of pigeons ; and in the second I shall give an account 

 of the different sorts, endeavoring to clear up all obscurities, 

 and render the knowledge and distinction of the several 

 species facile to all those who either do or may hereafter 

 delight in the contemplation of this innocent part of the 

 creation ; that by comparing any bird with the character- 

 istics here given, they may be able to determine not only 

 the species itself, but to form a tolerable judgment whether 

 it be of the better sort or not ; and to this end I have not 

 only examined those birds of each sort which I keep myself, 

 hut have had recourse to, and consulted most of the oldest 

 and most experienced persons that kept pigeons and delighted 

 in this fancy. 



But not to detain you any longer with the introduction, 

 I shall, in the first place, give an account in what manner 

 to build your loft. 



THE METHOD OF BUILDING A LOET. 



A pigeon-loft ought to be built to the south or southwest, 

 the sun lying warmest on them from those quarters ; but if 

 you have not that convenience, you may make a'hole in the 

 roof of your house, and there lay your platform, smaller or 

 larger as you think proper. A carpenter that is used to such 

 work will put you in a method, always remembering to erect 

 proper works to keep off those tormentors of the gentlemen 

 of the Eancy, — the cats, for in one night's time they will 

 make a very great havoc, and are generally observed to 

 destroy those pigeons which you most value ; so that 'tis 

 better to be at some charge first, to prevent the incursions 

 of such dangerous and fatal invaders, who seldom or never 

 give any quarters. 



Let your loft be large enough to contain the number of 

 pigeons you intend to keep, always allowing at least two 

 holes or breeding places for every pair ; for the more room. 

 they have, the more quiet they will sit, and breed the better. 

 I once knew a gentleman who could not raise three young 

 ones out of nine pair of breeding pigeons all the spring, and 

 for above three months after, only by keeping them strait- 

 ened in two narrow a compass ; whereas, about the latter 

 end of August, or beginning of September, he moved them 

 into a larger loft, and the same pigeons bred well, even then, 

 and through the most part of the winter. The reason of 

 this inconvenience is this : salacious cocks will often be play- 

 ing to and disturbing the others as they sit ; and others who 

 want room to sit will fight for nests, and by this means de- 

 stroy both eggs and young ones. 



To make your breeding places, you may erect shelves of 

 about fourteen inches broad, allowing eighteen inches be- 

 twixt shelf and shelf, for otherwise your tall Pouters, by 

 being forced to crouch for want of height, will get a habit 

 of playing low, and spoil their carriage. In these shelves 

 erect partitions at about the distance of three feet, fixing a 

 blind by a board nailed against the front, on each side of 

 every partition ; by this means you will have two nests in 

 the length of every three feet, and your pigeons will sit dark 

 and private. You may, if you please, fix a partition between 

 each nest, to prevent the young ones from running to the 

 hen when sitting at the other end and cooling her eggs ; for 

 in breeding time, when the young ones are about three weeks 

 old, the hen, if a good breeder, will lay again, and leave the 

 cock to take care of and bring up the young ones. 

 ( To be continued.) 



