PREFACE. 
The present work was undertaken chiefly in consequence of the unprecedented success 
of the “ Illustrated Book of Poultry,” and the numerous requests the completion 
of that work brought by nearly every post to the Publishers, for such a companion 
volume as that now before the reader. In such circumstances it was natural that 
recourse should be had to Mr. Fulton, and the final result is seen in the following 
pages. 
Both Author and Editor have done their best, honestly and heartily, to provide a full 
and trustworthy treatise for the Pigeon Fancier. The one has desired and endeavoured 
to tell all he knows of the subject in its various branches, and the other has done his 
best to present that knowledge in the most effective form possible under the circum- 
stances, with such introduction and occasional comments as might attract the reader, 
or give point to the Author’s remarks. 
It only remains to thank those who have aided us. Their names will be found in 
the text ; but we owe special acknowledgments to Mr. J. W. Ludlow and Mr. H. P. 
Caridia. The former gentleman, besides the hearty manner in which he has carried 
out our wishes in his drawings for the plates which follow, has treated fully of large 
classes of birds concerning which he has special knowledge ; and the latter has also 
fully expounded, for the first time, the true relationship and mode of breeding of a 
fascinating class of Pigeons hitherto but little known. Both have thus supplied a 
deficiency we are glad to acknowledge. We must also thank Mr. S. C. Betty and 
Mr. Esquilant for the interesting particulars respecting the old Pigeon Societies, which 
will be found in the Appendix. 
