Exhibiting Pipeons. 



51 



where prizes of more or less value are offered for the best specimens 

 of fancy pigeons, and there can be no doubt that it is owing to this fact, 

 that good birds have year by year increased in value, till the sum of dfilOO 

 hag been paid on more than one occasion for a choice specimen. Sums 

 varying from ^25 to <£50, are by no means uncommon for really first-rate 

 birds of the high-class varieties, and an occasional sale of this kind 

 enables the breeder to realise a good equivalent for his outlay and 

 trouble in the production of good birds. Eeally good pigeons are always 

 saleable, and as the best birds are generally bred from such as are not 

 themselves of the very highest show form, but from judicious matching 

 up, the breeder can generally afford to pass away his best show 

 birds, or some of them, for a consideration. On this account many of 

 the most successful breeders of pigeons exhibit but seldom in a season, 

 being satisfied if they make their mark at some good show, where 

 they dispose of what they have to part with, and then concentrate their 

 efforts for the nest breeding season. Many of the best show pigeons 

 spend their existence in a round of exhibiting, and often produce, in 

 consequence, nothing of note. The pitcher goes often to the well, but 

 gets broken at last, and the constant knocking about of good birds, 

 many of which have to be of a mature age before they can attain show 

 form, tells on them sooner or later. The damage they sustain is not 

 done so much in going to shows as in returning from them, for when 

 several hundreds of birds are despatched from a show to destinations 

 north, south, east, and west, some may lie half a day at a station before 

 being started homewards, and when they do reach their destinations 

 alive, which is not always the case, they may have already received so 

 much unseen injury as will sooner or later cause their death. To guard 

 against such results, many either go with their birds to shows or send 

 them in charge of their servants ; when neither plan can be adopted 

 some risk must be run. 



Pigeons may be sent to shows in boxes or baskets. Boxes are liable 

 to breakages, and when made extra strong and heavy are expensive in 

 the way of carriage. Baskets are lighter, but, from their openness, 

 are not so desirable in cold weather, unless covered with coarse 

 canvas. Both boxes and baskets are made in compartments, capable of 

 holding from one to a dozen birds. Fig. 9 is a box for holdiog two 

 pouters, of a pattern long in use in Scotland. It measures 16in. long by 



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