The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



action of the crop and neck of the parents, 'who take 

 the beak of the young birds in their mouths for that 

 purpose. This manner of feeding is kept up until the 

 young bird is able to care for itself, which will be in 

 about six weeks' time. 



The number of species of the family Columbidae is 

 very great, and they are found in all warm and temper- 

 ate climates. Our fancy pigeons, the descendants of the 

 true pigeons Columba Livia and Columb'a AMnis of 

 which I propose treating entirely, are gregarious in 

 their habits, social in their nature, and live in flocks, 

 though still retaining their monogamus practice. 



The origin of our various breeds of fancy pigeons is 

 in a measure veiled in mystery. Pigeons have existed 

 and been the companions of man, so to speak, from the 

 earliest' period of which we have any history, mention 

 being made of them in ancient manuscripts written in 

 the Hindu, Sanscrit, Arabian, and Persian languages, 

 as also in various books of the Old Testament. The 

 earliest record is said by learned writers to have oc- 

 curred 3,000 years B. C. But whether the great variety 

 of fancy pigeons we know at the present day have all 

 descended, as many eminent naturalists maintain, from 

 the Blue Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove, "Columba Livia," 

 and the Chequered Dove House Pigeon, Columba 

 Aflinis," peculiar to the various countries of the Old 

 World, is the question. 



That some of our Toy Pigeons owe their origin to 

 them there is no doubt, but such pigeons as the Carrier, 

 Pouter, Barb, Fantail, Jacobin, and others, present char- 

 acteristics of such marked peculiarity as to cause think- 

 ing men to beUeve that they have an origin distinct from 

 the Blue Rock. Bfat if such is actually the case, the 

 varieties from which they sprang must now be extinct. 



