least an experimental knowledge of them, purchasing, at a great expense, 

 as many of the distinct sorts as they could hear of, and cultivating them 

 in their own houses; Richard Atherton, Esq., of Atherton Hall, in 

 Lancashire, who was a gentleman botlx. of will and ability to prosecute his 

 fancy in this branch of natural history, was building a stately house in ' 

 Lancashire, on the top of which he designed to have four turrets, in which 

 his pigeons were to be disposed according to the nearness of relation 

 between the different species, but death put an end to the undertaking in 

 the year 1726, to the immense grief of all those gentlemen of the Fancy 

 who had the honour of his acquaintance : he was a very compleat judge 

 of a Pigeon and would spare neither cost nor trouble to procure the best; 

 Ke.h^d one pouting cock which he valued at five pound, and a very choice 

 collection of many other kinds. The same methods have been taken in 

 most other countries as well as England, to gain this experimental know- 

 ledge, as in Holland, France, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Persia, and 

 Morocco. In the three last of which places, the Monarchs themselves 

 have officers, called keepers of the Pigeons. Having thus mentioned the 

 King of Morocco, give me leave to entertain you with the following story 

 out of the SieUr. Moaette in his travels through that kingdom. 



(Eaton.) — The loss of a spirited Fancier like RicHAED Atherton, Esq., of Atherton 

 Hall, Lancashire, who, as Mr. Moore observes, was a gentleman both of will and 

 ability, besides being a very complete judge of a Pigeon, and would spare neither cost 

 or trouble to procure the best, and had a very fine collection, must have been severely 

 felt by the gentlejnen of. the Fancy of that day ; and is equally as severely felt by the 

 gentlemen of the Fancy of the present day, when they sustain the loss of a good 

 b'ancier. It is quite clear that in Mr. Moore's day, as now, that not only the lower 

 rank of life, but even persons of the greatest distinction and the first degrees of quality 

 kept Pigeons ; I would here particularly guard you against having too great a variety 

 of Pigeons, otherwise you will know a little of the species, but nothing about one as it 

 ought to be known. It is a grievous thing, when we hear talk of a man being so clever 

 at all things, yet nobody would employ him, simply because he is not sufficiently clever 

 in one thing ; the fact is, he is Jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Now I sincerely 

 hope you will not make such a Fancier as this ; I have heard some of the best Carrier 

 Fanciers, and some of the best Pouter Fanciers, when asked their opinion on the 

 Tumbler, have stated that they knew nothing of the properties of the bird, not having 

 studied them, owing to having given their whole attention to one species, either the 

 Carrier or Pouter ; nevertheless, I should be very sorry to give either of these Carrier 

 or Pouter Fanciers (I have in my mind's eye) the choice of going into my aviaries or 

 h*fts, to pick out what Tumblers they chose, although, comparatively speaking, they 

 did not know the Tumbler, as compared to the Carrier or Pouter. I am sorry when- 

 ever I hear of a Carrier or Pouter Fancier giving them up ; they are most splendid 

 birds, and well worthy the attention of good Fanciers. It is possible there may be a 

 few Fanciers that have a good general knowledge of Fancy Pigeons, there are many 

 more who labour under a delusion by supposing they know, which they do not. The 

 five properties of the Tumbler, Carrier, and the Pouter, are so opposed to each other in 

 the standard as laid down by the Gentlemen of the Fancy, that only bothers and con- 

 fuses the young Fancier if he attempts too much at once ; therefore, my advice to the 

 yoimg Fancier is, to make himself master of one of the species of the Fancy first, and I 

 have no doubt his observations and reflections wiU teach him that he has his work to 

 do, in giving his whole attention to one species. I have very little opinion of a person 

 becoming A. 1. in the Fancy, who strives for too much at once ; therefore, I caution 

 you not to attempt with different sorts. But to retvirn to Mr. Moore's amazement 

 and astonishment, he might have saved all this, if he had simply drawn this inference — 

 How very few were competent to write on the subject, it being the work of a Fancier. 



