HOW TO BUY BIRDS 85 



$1.50 per pair, he made nearly ioo per cent, for the 

 expressage would amount to but little. If they were 

 thought worthy of a larger figure, they might have 

 been sold for $2 to $2.50 a pair, in which case, the 

 profits would range from nearly 166 2-3 to 233 1-3 per 

 cent. A business from which it is possible to realize 

 such returns can stand quite a lot of advertising. 



An example of buying. — A young man read an ad- 

 vertisement about squabs in one of the most reputable 

 periodicals, corresponded with the dealer and ordered 

 200 pairs of birds. He sent $50 extra, because the 

 dealer could also furnish feed. The birds and feed 

 came, the latter having the tag of a New York supply 

 house on the bags. Seventy-five of the birds soon 

 died. Upon examination, the grain was found to be 

 damaged. The young man's father pronounced it 

 unfit for hog feed. An additional 20 pairs of birds 

 had been bought from a western dealer. These 20 

 pairs of birds raised more squabs than the rest 

 of the 200 pairs. A pigeon house had been erected at 

 a cost of $175. At the end of the year, $800 had been 

 expended. The flock was of no consequence and was 

 sold to a farmer at 20 cents a pair. How then shall a 

 buyer get good birds? Simply ask questions, and if 

 you cannot get satisfactory answers, do not buy. 



Ask the following questions. — Have you raised the 

 birds you offer for sale? How old are they? Are 

 -they inbred? Are they mated? Are they banded? 

 How many squabs did each pair produce last year? 

 Have they canker? Have they lice? Will you write 

 a warranty that they are mated ? Will you give a list 

 showing which two birds are mated so that if one dies 

 I can tell its mate? Will you write a guarantee that 

 unless the birds mate inside of four weeks after I get 

 them ycu will refund the money. 



