1 82 PIGEON-FANCIERS. 



about this same period of 1600, the Dutch, according to 

 Aldrovandus, were as eager about pigeons as the Romans 

 had formerly been. The breeds which were kept during 

 the fifteenth century in Europe and in India, apparently 

 differed from each other. Tavernier, in his ' Travels,' in 

 1677, speaks as does Chardin, in 1735, of the vast num- 

 bers of pigeon-houses in Persia ; and the former remarks, 

 that as Christians were not permitted to keep pigeons, 

 some of the vulgar actually turned Mahometans for this 

 sole purpose. The Emperor of Morocco had his favourite 

 keeper of pigeons, as is mentioned in Moore's treatise, 

 published 1737. In England, from the time of 1678 to 

 the present day, as well as in Germany and in France, 

 numerous treatises have been published on the pigeon. 

 In India, about a hundred years ago, a Persian treatise 

 was written ; and the writer thought it no light affair, for 

 he begins with a solemn invocation, ' In the name of God, 

 the gracious and merciful.' Many large towns in Europe 

 and the United States now have their societies of 

 devoted pigeon-fanciers : at present there are three such 

 societies in London. In India, as I hear from Mr. Blyth, 

 the inhabitants of Delhi and of some other great cities 

 are eager fanciers. Mr. Layard informs me that most of 

 the known breeds are kept in Ceylon. In China, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Swinhoe of Amoy, and Dr. Lockhart of 

 Shangai, carriers, fantails, tumblers, and other varieties 

 are reared with care, especially by the bonzes, or priests. 



