66 riGEOXS AXD ALL AnOT'T THEM. 



bird is growing all the tiiiii-, and tliu shell is bfoouiiug 

 more brittle. I'sually the old liirds bring out the empty 

 shells, and often with a great deal of pride. If they do iiot^ 

 take them out gently as suou as possible for they are iu the 

 way. Again; I have seen the bloody half i.>f the first egg, 

 slip over the second egg and stick, and retard the progress of 

 the second bird. All these little matters go to show how 

 careful, how watchful the conscientious fancier must be. 



But for all this patience and perseverance, he gains his re- 

 ward when the young birds beautiful in their style, their 

 marking, their lovely contour of body, and all the little 

 points so necessary to the really fine pigeon, step out on the 

 floor to delight his eye. Lie knows that while they are direct- 

 ly descended from their parents, it is his skill and care, 

 aided by his instinctive love for the beautiful, that has made 

 them what they are. If among them there are a few that can 

 be decked with the coveted blue ribbons, in keen competi- 

 ti(;n, then his cup of happiness is indeed ftill to overflowing.. 



The young being now out of the eggs, all we have to do is, 

 as stated before, to watch and see that they are fed evenly, 

 that is, that both are fed about the same amount and neither 

 neglected. It is a good idea to feed rather early iu the 

 morning, and theu the hens will leave the nests with their 

 young in them, eat a little, and htirry back, leaving the cocks 

 to get good full crops of feed prior to relieving the hen, at 

 which time she will eat enough for the afternoon and night. 



I mention this from the fact, that if a morning feed is de- 

 layed till late in the day, the hens are ap)t to stay otf too long. 

 More young die through being chilled in the morning, than 

 at any other time. It is well to watch, and if you notice a 

 young bird quivering its little wings, shaking with cold and 

 gaping at intervals, hurry and slip it under another hen for 

 the time being, till it gets thoroughly warm. 



