87 



of them provided they could obtain thein half-an-inch ; while the Gentlemeu of the 

 Long-faced Flying Beard Fancy are desirous of obtaining their beards one inch and a 

 half. If these two extremes, viz., the short-faced half-inch, and the long-faced one 

 inch and a half, were added together, would make two inches. Equally divide the 

 two inches would give you one inch faced birds, which some might call a medium. 

 Don't deceive yourself. Do you suppose for a moment the Short or the Long-faced 

 Fancier would accept this bird at a gift. Certainly not ; the Short-faced Fancier could 

 Bee no beauty in it ; the Long-faced Fancier would swear their was no use in it ; the 

 Fanciers combined would declare it neither " fit for use or ornament," whereas the 

 Lonjf -faced Beard will do tremendous work in flyinj^. If what are called Pleasant 

 Beards (three quarters of an inch) will do from Dover to London, 71 miles, the Long- 

 faced (one inch and a half) will do twice the distance to Dover. I have often seen on 

 grand show nights at the east end of London a pen of these extra Long-faced Beards ; 

 I once saw at one of these shows a Beard that measured in the face one inch and a 

 half, although one-inch and three-eighths is a good length. Less than one-inch and a 

 quarter, the G-entlemen Long-faced Fanciers would not look at. Some of these birds 

 are large and noble-looking, long from beak to tail, beautifully marked in feather, 

 extremely long-flighted ; in fact, they look as much like gulls, comparatively, as 

 Pigeons. The Fanciers of these Pigeons are very choice of them, and would require 

 high prices for them, provided they would part with them. It therefore proves the 

 standards of Pigeons are raised from extremes ; that middling or medium birds are 

 not acceptable to Fanciers, viz., birds that are neither here nor there, or half-and-half 

 birds. " Half-and-half" may be acceptable to weary travellers on a long dusty road, 

 but not half-and-half Pigeons to Fanciers. The Beard is a sharpe, subtle, cunning 

 Pigeon, much more so than the Baldhead, as Fanciers experience, after having kept 

 them long enough in the traps to become acquinted with their new habitation and the 

 locality. If they are good when let out, they mount the elements, look out for their 

 homes ; and go home in good style. A Baldhead is more kind, and more likely to 

 stop at a new habitation. 



(Mayor, p. 65.)- -It may not be amiss, before I conclude this head, to remark a dis- 

 tinction which the Society of Columbarians make between Pigeon Fanciers and Pigeon 

 keepers, viz. — such gentlemen who keep good of the sort, whether they are Al- 

 mond, black mottled, or yellow-mottled Tumblers, Carriers, Pouters, Horseman, 

 Dragons, Lei);horn or Spanish Runts, Jacobines, Barbs, Turbets, Owls, broad 

 tailed Shakers, Nuns, Spots, Trumpeters, &c., are styled Fanciers ; on the conti'ary, 

 those who keep trash are called Pigeon keepers, of which last denomination there are 

 a surprising number. It is prodigiously amazing and unaccountable that any gentle- 

 man will bestow food upon such as are in reality not worth the tares they devour, and can 

 be accounted for no other way than by supposing such gentlemen utterly unacquainted 

 with the true properties and perfections of the several species they entertain, which, it 

 must be confessed, is rather a harsh supposition (except they breed for the spit only, 

 and even then their table might be as amply supplied by the better sort), the expense 

 of keeping either being equal in every respect, the difference arising only in the pur- 

 chase of one pair. Should any objection be made to the expense of the first purchase 

 of the better sort, I answer it is infinitely cheaper to bestow four or five guineas on 

 one pair of good birds (which in a short time would sufficiently stock a loft, and re- 

 pay the purchase vnth great interest. Pouters or Leghorn Runts excepted, because, as 

 before observed, they must not be bred in and in), than to begin with bad ones at 

 eighteen pence a pair, the value of which can never be enhanced. I hope I need not 

 here apologise, or be thought ill-natured by those gentlemen whose fancy may differ 

 from mine, in giving my real sentiments and opinions so freely, as I have advanced 

 nothing but matter of fact, and is the result of many years' experience, having been 

 possessed (I believe I may venture to say, without vanity), of as good, if not the best 

 in England, of Fancy Pigeons, besides toys of all kinds. 



(Eaton, 196 E.) — A Fancier to whom I applied to aid and assist me with his re- 

 marks on the Baldhead and Beard, still persisted in playing his very old and favourite 

 character of the " Dog in the Manger." He wiU not play the character of giving 

 his experience to young and inexperienced Fanciers. On the contrary, you will per- 

 ceive I am under gi-eat obligations to Mr. Corker, Mr. Tonge, and, though last not 

 least, to Mr. Brent, for their kindness in aiding and assisting me. 



