59 



COLUMBA GUTTUKOSA BATAVIiE. 



The Dutch Crojiper. 



158. — This Pigeon seems to be originally Dutch, being naturally thick 

 and its name is derived from a large bag, or crop of wind, which they carry 

 under their beak, and can at pleasure either raise or depress ; they are 

 thick bodied and short, their legs are likewise thick, short, and feathered 

 down to their feet ; their crop is large but always hang low, the feathers 

 on their thighs hang loose, whereby they are said to be flag-thighed, their 

 legs stand wide, and they seldom play upright,, they aire gravel-eyed, and 

 are generally very bad feeders, therefore as soon as they have fed off their 

 soft meat it is proper to put their young ones under a. pair of small 

 Runts, Dragoons, or Powting-horsemen, which may be kept as nurses for 

 the purpose. - '_ ' - 



looking very beautifxil as touching Dragons." Should it so happen that this fine old 

 English gentleman, one of the olden times, gave ah invite to one of his old friends, to 

 come and spend a few days with him in the country, (but fortunately, or unfortunately, 

 he is a good Carrier Fancier), after hearing this fine old English gentleman (in his way) 

 describing the perfections or imperfections of his Carriers, as he pleased to call them, for 

 want of knowing better. I ask you, as wise men, would it not be cruel if this Cai-rier 

 Fancier, on a visit or spunging excursion^ should endeavour to hghten the darkness of 

 this fine old English gentleman, one of the very olden times ; fop instance, in the first 

 place it would be too late in his day to make a good Carrier Fancier of him, and in the 

 second place, it is possible there was no onein the locality to iiistruct him ; it therefore 

 appears to me, taking all the circumstances into consideration, to let this fine old Eng- 

 lish gentleman enjoy his own opinion. Why do authors on Pigeons spell the Dragon 

 with two " o's," making the word Dragoon, a kind of soldier, &c,, ** Walker," lu 

 society we never call it the Dragoon, but the Dragon — Drag-un, a winged serpent. 

 " Walker," from which it derives its name. Also the Pout-er is spelt thus, Powter, 

 The name is derived from the word to pout, by thrusting out, '' Walker." I hope no 

 author vs^ho follows me, will be guilty of doing it. It may be excusable in me in Mr. 

 Moore's Work, as I am desirous it should be punished letter for letter. I did not 

 exactly agree with Moore on the last subject — the Horseman — but I am determined to 

 agree with him on the Dragon, believing what he states to be correct. 



157. (Brent.) — The Dragon Pigeons may be considered as an inferior variety of 

 Carrier or Horseman, from which they were most probably a cross. They have the 

 same properties as the Carrier, but not so fully developed ; they are smaller, more 

 active, and swifter for short journeys. They are of various colours, but the blues are 

 most esteemed. They are wild birds, but excellent breeders and nurses ; so much are 

 they esteemed on this account, that they are frequently kept as nurses for the larger 

 sorts of fancy Pigeons, and as they are large and fleshy, their young are excellent for 

 the table. Shear Dragon is the name for those of this variety that have long straight 

 beaks and heads, without much wattle. 



(Brekt.) — Dragons were the variety mostly used for flying before the introduction 

 of the Antwerp ; many persons still prefer them, and we have many extraordinary 

 accounts on record of their performances. All these varieties have large soft beaks 

 while young ; the wattle grows, and continues to inci-ease for a year or two. 



157. (Boys.) — Thirty-six years ago when my collection of Dragons (about thirty) 

 every morning brought me from London, in slips, the leading article of the Morning 

 Post newspaper tied round the leg. 



(Eaton.) — From London to Margate, seventy-two miles ; a decent fly, and proves 

 Dragons can do work. 



158. (Mayor, p. 92 ) — But now the Gentlemen Fanciers in England pay very little 



