THE PIGEON BOOK 29 



strong teams; but it is to the successful breeder, not 

 merely to the successful exhibitor, that the beginner 

 should go for " strain." 



The first thing the beginner has to master is to breed 

 and rear sound pigeons. Attention to the advice given in 

 the chapter on Management will lead to this. 



The beginner is wise if when he starts he specialises — 

 that is to say, selects one variety and endeavours to 

 thoroughly master the difficulties in the path of producing 

 champions of the variety without dabbling in too many 

 breeds. 



Some birds are hardier and easier to rear than others. 

 Some birds are much more popular than others. The 

 greater the popularity of a variety the more difficult is 

 it to gain success, owing to the keenness of competition. 



Some of the fancy varieties are very pretty in colour 

 and markings, and breed fairly true to type, but they are 

 not popular. Competition is very meagre, and only a 

 few shows provide classes for them. These and other 

 matters must be considered by the beginner who desires 

 to take up the fancy and is considering the variety to 

 select. 



The situation of the loft must be taken into considera- 

 tion when selecting the breed. 



If in close proximity to a smoky town white birds will 

 not thrive as well as dark-coloured ones. True, they 

 can be washed, but it is a tiresome process, and too much 

 hard work mars the pleasure derived from a hobby. 



Having decided upon the breed he intends to keep, if 

 it is to be one of the fancy varieties for show purposes 

 the beginner must obtain the standard of the variety, and 

 at every opportunity visit shows where he will see speci- 

 mens of the breed he desires to produce. 



The most economical way to start, as I have pointed 



