CHAPTER VIII- 

 SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITING. 



" In woiulerful fettle," " Beaten in feather," 

 " Not in such good form," " Won by condition." 

 How well known are such phrases as these, not only to 

 the frequenters of shows, but also to readers of the 

 reports which ai)pear in the weekly paper, " Pigeons.-" 

 Few, very few, are the points given for condition in 

 any standard, \-et how great a part it plays in the 

 decisions of our judges. Some may argue, too great 

 a part. I think not. It matters not how good a bird 

 nia>' be in structural proportions, beauty of plumage, 

 or excellency of marking, it cannot show these points 

 to perfection unless it is m good condition. There- 

 fore, our judges cannot insist too much on exhibits 

 bein.g in good condition, neither can they appraise too 

 highly the efforts of those fanciers who put their birds 

 down as fit as the proverbial fiddle. Condition is to 

 the exhibitor what possession is to the litigant — nine 

 jioiiits of the law. 



Cl.H.VNIJNESS .\ \'1RTUE. 



No matter how excellent an exhibit may be as 

 regards its standard properties, it cannot show off' its 

 beauty unless it is shown spotlessly clean, and with its 

 feathers tight and smart. \A'e all know the dift'crence 

 in the appearance of a bird that is fit and one that is not, 

 and we all apiireciate that difference. It is this appre- 

 ciation of condition which has made the Barb and 

 Carrier men iirotest somewhat of late against the giving 

 of prizes to liirds which, although marvels in regard 

 to structural priii'ierties, ha\-e >-et in the pens lorjked 

 of all birds most miserable. I'nder some of our judo'es, 

 if a bird had a l)ie head, a stout beak, and plenty of 

 Cere, he would get well up, n<i matter if half its feathers 

 were glued tngetl'.er with dirt, and the t(ii"> and li.ittom 



