CHAPTER II. 



THE LITERA TURE OF FANCY PIGEONS. 



Fkom many passages in the Old and New Testaments we learn that 

 pigeons were domesticated among the Jews, but there is nothing in 

 the Bible to prove oonclusivcly that choice fancy pigeons, snch as we 

 know the Romans delighted in, wore kept in Palestine. 



Among the Komaus, Columella, the writer on agriculture, and Pliny, 

 the author of the '' Natural History of the World," in thirty-seven 

 books, speak very decidedly regarding fancy pigeons. An edition of 

 Pliny's work, translated by Dr. Holland into English, was published in 

 1601, and, though a scarce book, can stiU be got. The Kev. E. S. Dixon, 

 in his "Dovecote and Aviary" (1851), says that Columella was scan- 

 dalised at the inveteracy and extravagance of the Pigeon Fancy amongst 

 his contemporaries ; and that Pliny records that before Pompey's civil 

 war, L. Axius, a Eoman knight, used to sell a single pair of pigeons for 

 four hundred denarii, equal to nearly ^£13 of our money. 



There are also passages from these writers showing that pigeons were 

 used as messengers, and many passages from mediaeval wi-iters have 

 been recently collected, proving tlio same use of them. Tavernier, in 

 his "Six Voyages into Persia and the East Indies," 1C77, alludes to 

 carrying pigeons, and Mr. T. C. Burnell has recently pointed out that a 

 like allusion may be found in "An Exact and Cnrioua Survey of the East 

 Indies," London, 1C1.5 ; but as for any descriptions of fancy pigeons, I 

 know nothing earlier than what the Eev. E. S. Dixon quotes from Aldro- 

 vandus, whose works on natural history were published in thirteen folio 

 volumes, in Latin, in 10.37-07. 



