Feeding, Breeding, and Management. 39 



shaken up in them when being cleansed. If placed outside the flight 

 and exposed to the rays of the summer sun, they miast either be protected 

 from it by a box in extra hot days, or frequently refilled with cold 

 water, for sun-heated water is prejudicial both to the old and young 

 ones. 



As pigeons at liberty eat freely of lettuce and such green food, this 

 may be supplied occasionally to those kept in confinement, but it is 

 not an absolute necessity for them, and I never give them such in the 

 winter time. 



Bathing water may be allowed them twice a week, which is about as 

 often as they will care to use it. If supplied in the loft, no vessel, how- 

 ever constructed, will prevent them dashing it about all round for 2ft. 

 or 3ft., but a little saw-dust thrown upon the overflow will absorb it in a 

 few minutes, when it may be swept up. If the bath be made with sides 

 inclining inwards, much less water will be scattered about than when they 

 are upright or sloping outwards. 



Supposing the pigeon fancier to have his loft and its arrangements 

 completed, and to have selected his stock of birds, the first thing he 

 will have to do will be to pair them together. In matching them up, 

 with the object of breeding good young ones, the general rule may be 

 laid down that whatever faults one of the pair may possess, its mate 

 should not possess the same. A pair of pigeons having between them 

 the properties sufficient to constitute a perfect specimen, or something 

 approaching to it, are Ukely to amalgamate, in some of their progeny, 

 the good points they possess ; and by this method are the most 

 perfect specimens of fancy pigeons produced. But, besides the appear- 

 ance of the birds themselves, that of their parents and more remote 

 ancestors should be considered where it may be done, as pigeons, 

 in common with other animals, throw back to their ancestral form, 

 as much, and often more, than to their own parents. It will therefore 

 be seen that successful pigeon breeding requires considerable study, 

 although good pigeons are not unfrequently produced from bad stock 

 by throwing back to better ancestors, but such chance birds are not 

 reliable for stock purposes. It is always better that a beginner should 

 procure his stock birds from a breeder who has proved his ability to 

 turn out good stock of any particular variety, than to buy those of 

 whose pedigree he can learn nothing ; for there is much virtue in a good 



