6 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
hours together in a dormer hoping to entrap some stray bird which, when caught, is not really 
worth one-tenth of the time it has cost ? What can you say about them ? 
We could find many things to say about even “ them.” We could say, first, that even such 
“ low ” occupations are in reality higher and better than the amusements at brutal Hurlingham, 
where delicate ladies and high-born gentlemen will spend their hours in critically watching pigeons 
mangled for wanton sport and for lack of something better to do. We might say with equal truth, 
that it is better than dog-fighting or cock-fighting, which were formerly the sports such men as we 
are speaking of would have been engaged in, and that so far, it is an actual step upwards and 
a clear benefit. This will be more clearly seen some years hence, and would have been already, 
were not many of the “flying clubs” so mixed up with various public-houses ; which keeps “flying” 
as an amusement much “ lower ” than it would otherwise be. As a proof of what we state we need 
only go over to Belgium, where it has been remarked that “ every fourth man is a pigeon-fancier,” 
and every occasion of public competition is attended by vast crowds interested in the results. 
“Flying” is there common to all ranks ; yet the Dutch are not generally accounted a dissipated or 
reckless people ; and there are signs, as we have already said, that in England also the pursuit is 
rapidly assuming a most elevated character. We will, however, readily admit that we cannot at 
present call most of these common pigeon-flyers “ fanciers ” in the true sense of that term. But we 
shall do all we can for them, too, nevertheless ; and we hope many of them will be tempted to read 
these pages. If they do, we hope to lay hold of them by the common bond of an interest in 
pigeons ; and that thus they may, by the beautiful examples we shall place before them, and 
the plain instructions we shall give, be made fanciers in reality ; and acquire along with a true love 
for the birds, that love of home which those birds so strikingly show, and which is perhaps the 
greatest want in English artisan life. 
In seeking, then, to expound thoroughly and practically every branch of the Pigeon Fancy, in 
the certain hope that by so doing we shall largely promote and extend it, we have the fullest 
conviction that if our object be in any degree attained, it will be an almost unmixed benefit. We 
know not, indeed, whether we may ever hope to see in England such a sight as many travellers 
have described with delight after visiting Venice. There the pigeons are the pets of the whole 
city, and any one guilty of shooting a bird would be looked upon in a light which would do the 
Hurlingham folk of both sexes some moral good to realise. But the grand sight is at two o’clock, 
when a bell is rung in the great square of St. Mark, and all the birds come down to be fed in such 
numbers that the air is darkened by their wings. Fear is unknown to them ; and whenever a 
visitor purchases one of the little bags of “ feed” which are offered by children on every side, he 
or she — the ladies especially take delight in this scene — is literally covered by the birds which have 
seen the little transaction, and arc eager to share in the feast. It is a pretty spectacle — too pretty, 
we fear, ever to be an English one ; for our insular habits and ways want that quick glow of 
feeling that can alone give it birth : we may hope, but perhaps never expect, to see such in this 
country. But we do hope to see the day when every booby will not seek to shoot the stray 
pigeon that crosses his path ; or if he does, instead of boasting of it as a smart thing, may keep 
the fact concealed for very shame. We hope to see pigeons better understood, and as a consequence, 
better loved ; and to this end, and with the desire to carry the love of them into many English 
homes, we commence our efforts towards an extension of “ The Pigeon Fancy.” 
