46 



Looking back to my early days in the Fancy I am gure'of this, that I oftener got a 

 gDod<bird by accident than by judgment : besides the inexperienced Fancier, when 

 he becomes experienced, can recollect how he has been treated by Fanciers, who 

 ought rather to have encouraged any young Fancier than otherwise. Having 

 occasion to have some alterations in my aviary and lofts, amongst the workmen 

 there was a carpenter who was a flying Fancier, and on shewing him my birds 



when we came to the black mottle hen, he said, " You bought that of Mr. ." 



I asked him, how he knew that ? He said he had sold' it to him for half a crown, as 

 it did not fly well with his bald-heads, thab a charwoman, knowing that he kept 

 pigeons, had brought it to him to see if he would buy it, and he gave her one 

 shilling for it. She said that she had picked it up, while it was eating the oats 

 from some horse-dung in the Hollowly Road, one bitter snowy winter's morning ; 

 that the poor bird was nearly starved; and might have perished, had not this good 

 woman have saved it. There is not the shadow of a doubt but that this beautiful 

 black mottled hen had made its escape from some good fancier's aviary or loft in 

 Holloway or the neighbourhood ; the bird could not fly well, owing to having 

 been confined. 



Now, from the cock that would have been dead in two minutes after I had 

 ordered it to be killed (had I not called out) and which I cured of the Vertigo, 

 and the hen nearly lost in every sense of the word, I obtained my strain of black 

 mottled tumblers, which I believe is not surpassed by that of any other Fancier 

 living. My young Fancier, I have two objects in view, in informing you of 

 this, the first is not quickly to despair of curing a bird ; and the second is, that it 

 is possible you may obtain a first-rate stud of birds, even through accident, if you 

 will only persevere and become A. 1. in the Fancy. 



With regard to the canker, it arises &om dirty feeding and putrid drinking, of 

 which the unclean Fancier ought to be ashamed, and it is to be hoped that he will 

 never do so any more. In a former part of this work I called your particular 

 attention to cleanliness. Remove the cause that produces evils, and the effect 

 would follow. But the Fancier may say that this advice comes too ,late, for his 

 birds have got it, which nobody can deny ; this unfortunately being the case, I 

 will endeavour to instruct him how to cure it : — take burnt alum and honey, and 

 rub the part affected every day, and most likely it will be cured ; should this not 

 have the effect, dissolve five grains of Roman vitriol in half a spoonful of best 

 white wine vinegar, add it to the former composition, and rub the part affected. 

 Or take half an ounce of burnt alum, half an ounce of gunpowder, a gill of best 

 white wine vinegar, and mix them well together, take one of your pigeon's flight 

 or tail feathers that you will find about your aviary or loft, and anoint the part 

 affected ; and if even in the throat, you must use one of these prescriptions with 

 the feather, and anoint the inside of the throat, twice a day. I do not object to the 

 raising the scurf, and cause it to bleed a very little where it can be got at, believing 

 it more effectual. I am aware that there are Fanciers who object to this, thinking 

 it searching enough without. You can try it without, and if it does not succeed, 

 then raise the scurf a little ; fortunately for me not having occasion to use these 

 prescriptions) I have never tried the burnt alum, gunpowder, and vinegar, 

 but entertain a Mgh opinion of its effects, owing to the strong assurance^ I have 

 received from some of the best Fanciers. It is absurd and childish twaddle to assert 

 that the canker arises from the birds fighting ; call things by their right name and 

 then I do not object. You may say that the cocks fight, and get pecked on the 

 head ; this is true, and if you like to call it sores on the head, I have no objection, 

 and if you apply the prescription, or use a Httle alum and water, will cure it, but do 

 not on any account say that it is the cause of canker, for if you do you assert any- 

 thing but the truth. 



With cleanliness andcare I think your birds will not be troubled with diseases, 

 besides the delight it will afford you of seeing your birds healthy, vigorous, and 

 clean ; but if on the contrary— Woe be to you ! Fanciers differ with regard to 



