86 
The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
this remark applies equally to Barbs and Dragoons) being an artificial point, and needing vigorous 
growth to keep it up, all wattled breeds require more frequent crossing than others. We have 
known many fanciers who started with really good stock, who by neglecting this consideration 
have found their birds dwindle down in head points in spite of all they could do, they could never 
tell why ; while in other hands the very same strain, judiciously crossed, has produced marvellous 
birds. A well-known good breeder can almost always exchange a bird as required ; but in any 
case, we have no hesitation in saying from experience that most breeders require a cross every 
three years or thereabouts, to keep up the strength of blood. Of course, there are some who have 
such an extensive stud that they do not need this, having enough different strains of their own to 
give them all they want for a long time ; but even these will do well, whenever a handsome young 
cock or a fine large hen offers, to secure it for the improvement of their stock. Such a bird will 
always pay for keeping a few months, and as it is very seldom they can be got just when wanted, 
it is best to secure them whenever they “turn up.” More especially should a good large hen 
be thus snapped up “on sight.” We are more and more convinced that the weak point in the 
Carrier fancy is the want of such birds, and that, if breeders would pay more attention to their 
hens, and especially if they would study, by getting them hatched together with the cocks in the 
way we have pointed out, and giving a promising hen squab alone where possible to a good pair 
of feeders, to rear their best hens fine and strong, we should see a vast improvement in the general 
carriage, size, and constitution of Carriers, and might probably soon have a race of birds that would 
rear their own young. Most of the best Carrier hens have been reared in this manner. 
We hardly need urge that birds should never be bred from while in a diseased state. This 
would apply to all pigeons, but especially to so highly artificial a bird as the Carrier. Canker in 
the mouth or ear, the disease called “ small-pox,” disease of the lungs (known by the panting and 
croaking of the bird), wing disease, and gout in the legs, are especially to be avoided, as birds 
bred from in this state are almost certain to impart the disease to their progeny. Disease of the 
lungs, indeed, for most obvious reasons, should discard a bird altogether ; but most of the others 
can often be cured, though it is doubtful if even then some constitutional taint is not imparted to 
the offspring, and any one who has a strain which he knows to be free from disease will do well to 
be very cautious what birds he crosses from, lest he impart to them what he can hardly ever 
afterwards thoroughly get rid of again. 
The more general diseases of pigeons will be treated of separately ; but there are some which 
are cither peculiar to Carriers and other wattled birds, or at least to which they are so much more 
liable than other breeds, that it will be useful and appropriate to treat of them in this chapter. 
And, first, to speak of the wattle itself. We have already mentioned the peculiar risks to 
which it is liable, from fighting, from draughts, and from overgrowth ; any or all of these leading 
to inflammation and discharge, which, if not properly attended to, soon becomes matter, and 
finally often degenerates into obstinate canker, which sometimes extends to the ear, the worst 
place of all. The thick, fleshy-eyed birds are most subject to these contingencies, and a constant 
watch should be kept upon them. In any case of injury, the first thing always to be done is a 
very gentle bathing with warm water, pressing, but not rubbing, a very soft sponge against the 
injured or inflamed part and then squeezing the water out, after which the wattle should be gently 
dried with an old silk handkerchief in the same way, and then anointed with perfectly fresh grease 
(i.e., neither salt nor rancid ; fresh lard answers well, and oil will do if nothing else can be had). 
For actual injury, a little zinc ointment instead of the grease will help to heal the torn part ; but in 
all cases, when the immediate symptoms have passed off, the wattle should be carefully examined 
to see if there be a “ spout-eye.” This arises from a good growth of wattle, naturally tending to 
