CHAPTER IV , 



What Varieties to Breed 



The necessary provisions for the accommodation anct 

 comfort of the flock having been all arranged, the ques- 

 tion with a novice naturally arises, "What variety will 

 it be best to keep and breed ?" Well this, as it is a mat- 

 ter generally of taste or fancy, is a hard question to an- 

 swer for all alike. There are so many to choose from ; 

 something like 150 or more varieties and sub-varieties, 

 and all possessed of qualities more or less desirable. 

 Much depends, as we have said, in regard to the con- 

 struction of the habitation, on the moneyed resources of 

 the breeder. Still, I believe in commencing, it is better 

 to begin with some of the more easily managed varieties 

 and learn through them what is needed for the success- 

 ful breeding of the more expensive and higher-class 

 pigeons. Therefore I always advise beginning with 

 such birds as the common Long-faced Tumbler, Ant- 

 werp, Fantail, Duchesse, Owl, Solid Colored Turbit, 

 and birds such as these, that are generally good nurses 

 and feeders, possessed of fine qualities enough to make 

 them attractive and yet not so difficult to produce in per- 

 fection as some of the high-class and parti-colored pig- 

 eons. 



Then after learning the habits of these the young 

 fancier is by this first experience better fitted to under- 

 take the breeding of the more delicate and difficult 

 varieties. Not but that some of the varieties named 

 have qualities that are difficult to produce in perfection, 



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