The Old Writers on Pigeons. 
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ones : and vve confess that those in the “Treatise ” rather commend his judgment than otherwise. 
The “Treatise” is not however entirely reprint. In place of the few lines of Moore, it devotes a 
whole, though short, chapter to the Almond Tumbler, and refers also to a “ Standard ” for this 
breed published as a separate print for sixpence. It also notices for the first time the kindred 
varieties of Baldheads and Beards, and the Black and Yellow Mottles. The so-called “Lace” 
Pigeon — the absurdity of which name must hence be charged upon the “ Treatise” — and the Frill- 
back are also described for the first time, and there is a fuller description of the Owl. The most 
interesting point about the “Treatise,” however, is the evident advance in favour and popularity of 
the beautiful Almond Tumbler and its various short-faced relatives. 
After the “ Treatise,” and we believe only a year or two after, came the “ New and Compleat 
Pigeon Fancyer,” by Mr. Daniel Girton, of the County of Bucks. The British Museum Catalogue, 
it is true, gives as the probable date 1800; but adds a mark of doubt, and there is very strong 
circumstantial evidence to show that it must have been much earlier. It is stated on the title-page 
to be “printed for Alexander Hogg, of 16, Paternoster Row and as we have the dates of Bibles 
and other works issued by this publisher at and soon after 1763, and we also find a fancier named 
Girton referred to by name both in Moore and the “ Treatise,” we regard it as almost certain that the 
date could not well have been later than 1770. However this may be, the work in question for a 
long time furnished the standard book on pigeons for all fanciers, and many editions were printed, 
which are still in request. Countless other books, not worthy of separate mention, are based upon 
more orless full extracts from Girton. He reprints most of the illustrations from the “ Treatise,” and 
in his notes on fancy pigeons follows that work ; but gives a tolerable amount of new matter on the 
practical management of the pigeon-loft, and also describes two new varieties, called the Chinese 
Pigeon and the Smiter. The demand for, and the frequent reprints of this work, show conclusively 
the rapid growth of the pigeon-fancy in general popularity ; and an incidental proof of the same 
fact may be found in a singular allusion to it by Southey, in “ The Doctor.” In that curious 
work, in the chapter on “Onomatology, or Names,” Southey speaks of the many names given to 
the numerous varieties of fruits, and then proceeds as follows : “ Hath not Daniel Girton, of Bucks, 
in his ‘ Compleat Pigeon Fancyer,’ wherein he points out to the gentlemen of the fancy the foul 
marks and real perfections of every valuable species of fancy birds and toys which in his time were 
bred in England, France, and Holland : hath not Daniel Girton, I say (though Boswell thought 
that a sentence so formed as to require an ‘ I say’ to keep it together resembled a pair of 
ill-mended breeches, and candidly acknowledged the resemblance in his own — the sentence I mean 
he was penning, not the breeches he wore), hath not Daniel Girton, I say, particularly enumerated 
in his title-page among the varieties of such fancy birds, ‘ Pouters, Carriers, Horsemen, Dragons, 
Croppers, Uplopers, Pouting Horsemen, Fantails, Chinese Pigeons, Lace Pigeons, Tumblers, 
Runts, Spots, Laughers, Trumpeters, Jacobins, Capuchins, Nuns, Shakers, Helmets, Ruffs, Finikins, 
Turners, Barbs, Mahomets, Turbits, Owls, Smiters?’ — concluding the imperfect enumeration with 
an ‘&c.’” In this “old breeches” sentence two things are to be noticed: first, that in the 
enumeration of names Girton’s title-page is followed word for word ; and, secondly, that the 
mention of “ Toys” is conclusive proof of Southey’s having read the inside of the book as well. 
The next work was an original one, and is a still further testimony to the growing popularity 
of the Short-faced Tumbler, being entitled, “A New and Compleat Treatise on the Art of 
Breeding and Managing the Almond Tumbler.” Of this work two editions appear to have been 
published, and a copy of the first edition, by the kindness of our friend the “ rector,” lies before us 
as we write. It is “printed for the author by W. Williams, No. 35, Chancery Lane, London, 
price 5s., 1802,” the second edition being published in 1804. It is anonymous, but is stated by 
