PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 47 



John Smith Esq. 

 Dear Sir; 



I want a red Jacobin cuck, and twu blue Jac- 

 obin liens. I want the cock to show, and breed also; but 

 want the hens simply for breeding, and therefore care more 

 for blood than show i^oints. If you can supply these birds 

 please send price, and description of the cock. 

 Yours truly, 



Wm. Smith. 



Such a letter as the above, to an honest fancier, will bring 

 what one wants. 



Don't ever write for a bird that will be " sure to win " at 

 any show. No fancier can till such an order, for his ideas 

 and those of the judge of the show may be widely at vari- 

 ance. 



Wliat I liave tried to show in tlie above is this. If you 

 trust to the honor or integrity of a reputable fancier, you 

 will lose nothing by it. Remember I use the word " fancier" 

 not " dealer. " A fancier is a man who breeds his own birds, 

 and who sells whatever sur])lus he may have. He knows 

 the breeding of every bird he sends out. 



A dealer is one who buys any and all kinds of birds, just so 

 they are cheap enough. As to their breeding he knows ab- 

 solutely nothing. In behalf of the dealers many of whom 

 are honorable men, I want to say that they do not tly under 

 false colors. They do not assume to know anything aliout 

 what they sell. Their motto is, " there are the birds ; if the 

 price suits you, take them." There is always a demand for 

 birds of the class they handle, and they are therefore a busi- 

 ness necessity ; but I close this part as I began by suggesting 

 that if you want birds to breed for your own pleasure, and 

 with the hope of producing something which will be a credit 

 lo you, don't go to a dealer. 



