154 
The Illustrated Book of Pigeons . 
hardly say how often we have not heard the complaint, from one or another Almond breeder, of 
“Just found another pair of fine young ones dead in the shell the mishap being usually attributed 
to either the parents or foster-parents having allowed the eggs to become cold, while it is rather 
the sheer want of strength in the young birds to break the shell. We advise, then, to breed early 
for hens ; and if these birds become too large and coarse for exhibition purposes, they will, never- 
theless, if that be their only fault, be of the greatest value as stock-birds. If hatched not later 
than May, they will moult all through — body, flights, and tail — the first season, while the late-bred 
ones often keep very loose in feather all their lives, owing to their not thoroughly moulting, or 
being so long over the process. The difference in plumage alone between early-bred hens and 
late-hatched ones is remarkable, and quite enough of itself to cause a strong preference for early- 
bred birds. Of course, for a late-bred, or small and weakly hen, we would select a strong, and, 
if possible rather larger, but not too large, early-bred cock, so as to impart more vigour to her 
progeny, and enable them to hatch ; for breeding from both small and late-bred parents is the most 
disheartening thing we know of almost in the whole pigeon-fancy, and has disgusted many who 
would have persevered and succeeded, if they had only known the cause of their repeated failures 
to hatch and rear the young. Of course, there are numbers of Almonds purposely bred late, 
both for exhibition, and for sale to the many who admire a “ pretty little bird.” Such are often 
eagerly purchased by people who, knowing them to be young, think they have got most valuable 
breeding stock, till they find their mistake ; while many dealers are very glad to sell them, knowing 
their frailties, and that they will probably never produce anything to compete with themselves, and 
that little or no blame will attach to them. This it cannot well do, since the birds duly lay ; and 
when the eggs are found unfertile, or young ones half-formed, or fully-formed and dead in the shell, 
bad sitting, or insects, or some other cause is sure to be supposed, instead of the simple truth that 
the pair of birds have no strength of constitution. 
Early-bred hens have another advantage, in having more strength of feather, so that they 
often moult out fit for the show-pen a season before those hatched late. Since hens are so much 
longer coming to perfection, this is a very great advantage, and when added to the infinitely 
greater ease in rearing through the summer season, far more than outweighs the probability of 
getting them rather larger ; since it is probable that an equal number at least of small birds will 
live of those hatched early as late. For breeding hens, then, we sum up our advice in a recommen- 
dation to choose a strong, vigorous hen, even if rather large ; to correct this by a small fine-looking 
cock, late-bred if necessary ; and to breed in good time. To breed exhibition cocks, we would, on 
the contrary, rather prefer a largish cock, with as small a hen as could be procured, and for much 
the same reasons. 
Many Almond breeders will, of course, say that several of their best birds have been hatched 
late. Wc do not question it for a moment. But they are apt to forget the trouble and anxiety 
the birds have been to them, and how many have perished to a few reared. When skill, and 
patience, and knowledge have been acquired, much can be done ; but we know by long experience 
that nothing is so thoroughly disheartening to a young fancier as to obtain numbers of birds and 
be unable to rear them. And as we know that Almonds are not so very difficult to breed and rear 
when judiciously mated and managed, we have tried, at the risk of being wearisome, to explain the 
cause of so many failures. 
Another very great mistake is the common opinion that Almonds can only be bred and 
reared in a warm place, where they are never exposed to the cold. On the contrary, such a place 
is just what often gives nearly all the trouble, since being thus confined and kept warm, will soon 
make any breed so delicate as to cause more trouble than one in a hundred will long continue to 
