COLUMBARIUM: 



OR, THE PIGEON HOUSE. 



THE INTKODUCTIONo 



17. — 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 sbu- 

 limest 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. 



18. — I could wish some abler pen had undertook the work now before 

 me, but having examined most of the writers on these subjects, and find- 



17. (Eaton.) — Emperors, Kings, Queens, Princes, Nobles, with the best and ablest 

 Philosophers in all ages, have considered Pigeons worthy their consideration and taking 

 great delight in them ; ought it not to make the proud stiff necked ignorant man to 

 stoop, who attempts to ridicule and burlesque the Pigeon, he is in some measm-e to be 

 pitied, because he knows no better. I sincerely hope, from Mr. Mooee's beautiful 

 remarks, it will urge us Fanciers on, to endeavour to improve the beautiful properties 

 of the Pigeon, and contemplate their beauties and persevere in endeavouring to improve 

 their properties and raise them to a higher standard. We ought to feel grateful to 

 Mr. Moore in calling our attention, or reminding us while passing through the wilder- 

 ness. We are creatures, not the Creator, although all is vanity under the Sun, we 

 should embrace as large a share of happiness (free from vice) while travelling through 

 the wilderness, and should not be disheartened or hip ourselves by contemplating 

 whether our Pigeons, after death, shall fall into the hands of a wise man or a fool. 



18. (Eaton.) — Mr. Moore, over and over again, appears to deeply lament and 

 deplore the task of writing, or giving information to the Pigeon Fanciers, had not 

 fiillen to the lot of some abler pen than himself. In commenting on his vmtings to 

 the same effect prior, I made use of this word— Query. I repeat now again, Query ; 

 and ask. If ever there was a Fancier who could have done more than Mr. Moore 

 did, considering it was the first attempt at this new Science, and not having 

 any tract or line pointed out to him to follow ? He had examined most of the 

 writers on these subjects, and finding in them either no account at ajl, or else a very 

 imperfect and superficial one, which for a due opportunity to examine the Bird they 

 were describing, they have generally taken up at random and upon credit. Mr. 

 Moore says, " I thought it, in some measure, incumbent on me to attempt a Natural 

 History of this kind, partly as having in my house most of the sorts to be described, 

 and partly to provoke other Gentlemen who have more skill and ability to rescue this 

 part of the History of Animals from that obscurity it has so long laboured under." 



