90 



his Ornithology calls Columba Turcica seu Persiea, the Turkish or Per- 

 sian Pigeon. 



COLUMBA DOMESTICA HISPANIC. 



The Spanish Runt. 



202. — This Pigeon, as may readily be perceived by its name, comes 

 originally from Spain ; and is the longest bodied of all Pigeons ; I have 

 seen them three and twenty inches long, from the Apex of the beak to 

 the extremity of the tail, they are thick and short legged, loose feathered, 

 and loose fleshed, and don't walk erect as the Leghorn Runt does. 



203. — There are of all feathers in this kind of bird, but being short- 

 legged, are apt to sit too heavy upon their eggs, and by that means 

 break them, to prevent which inconvenience, the best way is to put chalk 

 eggs under them, and set their eggs under a pair of smaller Runts or 

 Powting-horseman, which are more kindly breeders ; not forgetting to 

 give your Spanish Runts a pair of young ones, at the time when fiiey 

 ought to hatch, that they may feed of their soft meat, which they always 

 prepare against that time. 



204. — I have seen a Pigeon very much resembling the Spanish Runt, 

 with longer legs, but I rather take these Runts to come from Mexico, 

 Peru, or some other parts of the Spanish West Indies. 



COLUMBA DOMESTICA FRISL^. 



The Friesland Hunt. 



205. — This Pigeon comes from Friesland, and is one of the larger 



(202. Beent.) — The Spanish Runt is now rarely seen in England — at least pure. Many 

 Pigeons are shown under that name, but very unlike the true soi-t. They are large 

 and loose-feathered, which makes them seem even larger than they are. They have 

 short necks and legs, but very long wings and tail, which make them appear exceed- 

 ingly long birds. The best I have seen were at St. Omer, France ; their colour waa 

 black, slightly mottled with white ; and they were called " Tigre Espagnol." Their 

 wings are so very long that they rise with difl&culty, but when once on the wing, 

 they float along at ease, resembling in appearance a large sea-gull. About that part 

 I have also seen a large red Pigeon with white shoulders, called "Tigre Rouge." But 

 of all the Pigeons I have ever seen, none were so large as some white Runts that 

 came from Belgium ; they had large feathers on their feet ; but as I cannot give their 

 exact size and weight, I shall forbear to state my ideas. 



(202. Brent.) — All the large Runts, from their scarcity, are very expensive ; and 

 from the same cause are bred so much in-and-in, that they are bad breeders. I am, 

 however, of the opinion, that if their eggs were hatched under other sorts, and the 

 young ones carefully matched, so as to avoid any relationship for a few generations, 

 and then allowed plenty of exercise, and not too stimulating food, that they would be 

 found as prolific and as good nurses as other kinds ; but they must have houses and 

 nest places adapted to their size. I think the trial is well worth making, as they 

 would then prove a good addition to our list of large and useful poultry. It is a well 

 known fact that as our domestic animals are bred in-and-in, in the same proportion 

 do they degenerate, both in size and productiveness ; and when over-stimulated, 

 they become fat, unhealthy, and careless of their young. If these facts were attended 

 to I see no reason why our pigeon-houses should not be tenanted with large Runts in- 

 stead of small ; but I do not wish to encourage mongrelism, for by crossing kinds the 

 respective properties of each would be lost. Adhere to one sort, but not to one family 

 connexion. Match birds of the same sort together, but of difierent families — the 

 wider the relationship the better ; and I have no hesitation in saying, that in two or 

 three generations your hopes would be realised. 



