Packing Pigeons for Exhibition. 
47 
slantwise, and not rectangularly, so as to make each much wider at one end than the other. 
This will be found to fit nicely the body of the bird, the shoulders of course going in the wide end, 
which quite prevents it from turning round, keeps it in position, and prevents it breaking or 
spoiling the flight-feathers or the tail. The bottom of each compartment should be well furnished 
with wheat-straw cut short, to prevent the bird from soiling its plumage; or clover chaff is excellent 
for the same purpose. Each compartment has a separate hinged lid, with a small fastening at the 
other end, so that when one bird is put into its place it remains secure while the others are being 
attended to. When all arc in place the outer lid covers the whole. The arrangements for giving 
air must be particularly studied. There should be half-inch holes all round the box, and also in 
the separate lids ; while, to make these last available, half-round pieces are cut out all round the 
top edges of the box, as clearly shown in the figure. These holes are not only for ventilation, 
which is of course necessary, but to keep the birds from soiling their plumage by their own 
breath, as it has been found that when confined in a box where there are not plenty of holes to 
TfMIff T Ml i 
Fig. 2 3 - — Basket for Pigeons generally. 
carry it off, the whole plumage gets quite wet, and so dull and soiled as to be unfit for exhibition. 
Such a box as the above answers all these purposes, and will be found excellently adapted either 
for sending to exhibitions or for despatching birds upon approval to intending purchasers. 
Fig. 23 represents a basket to answer the same purpose for other varieties of pigeons. The 
only difference that need be made is, that when Fantails are exhibited the inside of each 
compartment ought to be lined with cloth, so as not to break the tail-feathers, which are else 
very apt to get into the interstices of the wicker, and thus get either broken or twisted, which quite 
spoils one of the chief beauties of a Fantail, whose appearance depends almost entirely upon the 
condition it is in. For this reason some Fantail fanciers use a box instead of a basket ; but the 
lined basket is in our opinion the best, besides the important fact that it is so much lighter in 
weight, and therefore costs much less for carriage. We show our basket also as constructed in six 
compartments (which for an average exhibitor is a very convenient number), and the same 
construction will suit well for every variety except Pouters, with only some difference in the size. 
For Carriers or Runts this should be 32x13 inches, and 8 inches deep, but for other varieties 
it should be somewhat smaller. If to the two straps shown be added one in the middle, or a short 
