PIGEON STEALERS. 



Ill 



Many farmers in this neighbourhood, by means 

 of selling pigeon-manure at eighteen pence per 

 bushel, and by supplying the markets with young 

 birds, realized a sum of twenty- five pounds sterling 

 in the course of the year. 



As dove-cot pigeons are considered a kind of 

 common stock throughout the country, no farmer 

 ever takes umbrage when he sees a flight of stranger 

 pigeons alight at his barn door : because he is 

 quite aware, that the pigeons which incubate in his 

 own dove-cot, have a similar privilege in other 

 premises at any distance from him. 



This state of things appertaining to dove-cot- 

 economy, had existed for centuries in England ; 

 during which period, the farmer reaped abundant 

 profit, and the epicure had daily gratification, by 

 means of the encouragement and protection shewn 

 all over the land, to the common dove-cot pigeon. 



At last, some half century ago, perhaps not quite 

 so much, this profitable and peaceful understanding 

 amongst farmers, was doomed to go to wreck. 

 Their long- continued sunshine, was succeeded by 

 dark and cloudy weather : and a hitherto most 

 abundant supply of young pigeons, was to dwindle 

 down to nothing, before the face of a cruel 

 phantom ; to which our modern plunderers have 

 given the fashionable name of a pigeon-shooting 

 match. 



