of ancient writers. Noah first sent out of the ark a raven, but 

 it did not return. He then sent forth a dove, and it returned. 

 In seven days the dove was sent again, and it returned with an 

 olive leaf. After another seven days he -sent forth the dove 

 again, and it did not return. This is the first record we have of 

 Pigeons being used as messengers. We can learn the following 

 from Scripture, Gen. xv, 9: And he said unto him take an heifer 

 of three years old and a she goat of three years old and a turtle 

 dove and a young pigeon. St. Luke ii, 24: And to offer a sacri- 

 fice; a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons. Lev. i, 14: 

 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offer to the Lord be of fowls 

 he shall bring his offering of turtle doves or young pigeons. 



Hence we can take from this that where fowls are men- 

 tioned for food it also includes doves and pigeons, hence for 

 ages squabs have always been considered a staple article of food, 

 and also an article that was sold as a food ages ago. St. John 

 ii, 4: And found in the Temple those that sold oxen and sheep 

 and doves. This portion of Scripture leads us to believe that 

 pigeons were kept by the natives and taken to the m Jf-kets to sell. 



Of the countless varieties of pigeons we have to-day nearly 

 150 varieties, all originated, according to Darwin, from the Blue 

 Rock Dove, a descendant of the original dove that Noah left fly 

 from the ark and returned with the olive branch. The leading 

 breeds are the Jacobin, Fan-Tail, Duchess, Tumblers, Turbits, 

 Owls, Barbs, Trumpeters, Nuns, Archangels, Swallows, Car- 

 riers, Satinettes, Dragoons, Show, Homer, Shields. 



The First Steps in Squab Culture. 



Webster tells us that a squab is a young pigeon or dove. 

 Of course there are different kinds of squabs, so far as quality 

 is concerned, and quality governs the price the same as any 

 other business. It is the "quality" kind that we wish to talk 

 about here. No doubt many pigeon breeders have never seen 

 a good marketable squab, and it is for this class of readers that 

 this article is prepared. 



I would not advise an inexperienced person to invest all in 

 the pigeon business. To do so would be throwing good money 

 away, for this business, like any other, must be learned, and it 

 is the little details and thorough knowledge that spell success. 

 In the first place, secure all the knowledge you can concernino- 



