216 DOMESTIC PIGEONS. Chap. VI. 



point of structure and then another is attended to ; or different 

 breeds are admired at different times and in different countries. 

 As the author just quoted remarks, " the fancy ebbs and flows ; 

 a thorough fancier now-a-days never stoops to breed toy-birds ;" 

 yet these very "toys" are now most carefully bred in Germany. 

 Breeds which at the present time are highly valued in India are 

 considered worthless in England. No doubt, when breeds are 

 neglected, they degenerate ; still we may believe that, as long as 

 they are kept under the same conditions of life, characters once 

 gained will be partially retained for a long time, and may form 

 the starting-point for a future course of selection. 



Let it not be objected to this view of the action of uncon- 

 scious selection that fanciers would not observe or care for ex- 

 tremely slight differences. Those alone who have associated 

 with fanciers can be thoroughly aware of their accurate powers 

 of discrimination acquired by long practice, and of the care and 

 labour which they bestow on their birds. I have known a 

 fancier deliberately study his birds day after day to settle which 

 to match together and which to reject. Observe how difficult 

 the subject appears to one of the most eminent and experi- 

 enced fanciers. Mr. Eaton, the winner of many prizes, says, 

 " I would here particularly guard you against keeping too great 

 a variety of pigeons, otherwise you will know a little about all 

 the kinds, but nothing about one as it ought to be known." " It 

 is possible there may be a few fanciers that have a good general 

 knowledge of the several fancy pigeons, but there are many who 

 labour under the delusion of supposing they know what they do 

 not." Speaking exclusively of one sub-variety of one race, 

 namely, the short-faced almond tumbler, and after saying that 

 some fanciers sacrifice every property to obtain a good head 

 and beak, and that other fanciers sacrifice everything for 

 plumage, he remarks: "Some young fanciers who are over 

 covetous go in for all the five properties at once, and they 

 have their reward by getting nothing." In India, as I hear from 

 Mr. Blyth, pigeons are likewise selected and matched with the 

 greatest care. But we must not judge of the slight differences 

 which would have been valued in ancient days, by those which 

 are now valued after the formation of many races, each with 

 its own standard of perfection, kept uniform by our numerous 



