124 Pigeons and All Aboi't The^l 



the early ^lid-Sumiiier months in arood form, because 

 being free from parental cares they are sleek and tight 

 in plumage, and their eye full of hre and vigour. It 

 is onh' those fanciers who ha\'e plent>- of accommo- 

 dation and a fairlv laree stud who can afford to run a 

 few birds o\'er for the Summer shows. Those who are 

 able to do so reap a rich reward, as many a good first 

 and special may be picked up at these shows by birds 

 which, in the Winter season, would play second fiddle 

 to the first violins. 



The birds that have been held over and freed from 

 the cares of a famih' usually moult early, and thus are 

 often " as ragged as coots " during August when, both 

 in the Xorth and the South, there is most to be won at 

 these Summer shows. Therefore, something else has 

 to be found. It cannot be the birds which commenced 

 to breed earh', because they, if anything, will pos- 

 sibh', and most certainly should, be more forward in 

 the moult than those which have been" held over. 

 Therefore, the birds which should be in the best form 

 for the August shows are those which are not paired 

 up early in the year. This is a point which is not 

 given the attention it should l^e b>- fanciers. Birds 

 which are paired early invariably moult early, and 

 those that are paired late do not cast their feathers 

 either so earlv or so swiftly as those which go to nest 

 early in the season. 



WINNING ,\T HOME. 



There are many fanciers who never dream of 

 sending away to a Summer show yet who like to sup- 

 port any local fixture that may be held within reason- 

 able distance of home; and there are many reasons 

 why they like to support " home industries." - A 

 man is not without honour sa\'e within his own little 

 circle of acquaintances. He may send away to the 

 Dairy Show, Crystal Palace, ^Manchester, Barnstaple, 

 and other big events, but what are they compared tiT 

 the little flutter in connection with the flower show 

 at Slocuni-on-the-i\Iud ? Xothing — a \-eritable no- 

 thing ! The local folk hear these e\'ents talked about, 

 and are told that their friend and neighbour wins at 



