The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



but they seem to be easier to manage and control than 

 others of this great family. 



The breeding of pigeons in perfection is a study only 

 learned by long experience, and the lesson, like the les- 

 sons of life, needs to be first studied and learned 

 through the medium of the commoner and more easily 

 understood branches. I think any one commencing in 

 this way and then gradually working up to the more 

 valuable varieties is less liable to become discouraged 

 and retire in disgust frorh the fancy, than if he 

 started in at once to breed high-class birds, and met at 

 the outset the difficulties and discouragements one has 

 to contend with in the breeding and management of 

 such stock. In the breeding of fancy pigeons much de- 

 pends on the motive that induces one to' embark in it, 

 as to his continuing in the fancy. Some start with the 

 idea there is money to be made from raising fancy pig- 

 eons, and consequently foster with care every specimen 

 that is brought forth no matter how imperfect in quality, 

 believing every one is salable at some price, and, there- 

 fore, as it were, "fish for their net" ; such a fancier has 

 his place, but it is not among the foremost. Others 

 again take it up because it is something new, and ex- 

 pect to derive both pleasure and fame from being as- 

 sociated with the fancy. Some of these achieve their 

 end, learn to love the pursuit, and become life-long 

 fanciers, but too many after many unsuccessful trials 

 retire baffled and. discouraged, and are heard of no more. 



Others become fanciers from an inherent love of pets. 

 These are the ones that generally make pigeOn breeding 

 a success, and that do so much to keep alive the love 

 and interest for the feathered beauties. Money is no 

 object to them, price is no hindrance to their ambition, 

 and the word defeat is not in their lexicon. With the 



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