CHAPTER V 



DOMESTIC pigbo:ns 



1. Their Ancestry. 2. Domestic Breeds. 3. Tuniblers. 4. 

 Trap-Shooting. 6. Pigeon Flying. 6. Pigeons As Mes- 

 sengers. 7. Pigeons As Food. 



Their Ancestry 



The pigeon is one of the oldest domesticated 

 birds on record, and, like the goose, its earliest 

 history is shrouded in antiquity. It was figured 

 by ancient writers shortly after the dawn of 

 history and at the present day is described in the 

 literature of all nations. 



The first authoritative note concerning this 

 bird comes from the fifth dynasty of ancient 

 Egypt, with an antiquity of 4500 years. There 

 we find a pigeon pictured on the walls of the tomb 

 of one of the great princes of that day. Later, 

 Solomon is reputed to have utilized it as a message 

 carriei*. Reports of the Olyknpic games were 

 forwarded in the same manner to the Greek cities. 

 Still later, the first official word of the success- 

 ful conquest of Gaul was received in Rome by 

 "pigeon post." Thus, at the beginning of the 



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