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CHAPTER XIII. 
THE DRAGOON. 
In treating of this pigeon we approach a subject which has perhaps given rise to more marked 
difference of opinion than any other treated of in this work. Other breeds, as we have seen, 
are no doubt to be found which are to nearly as great an extent unsettled in some points ; 
but the difference in the present case is, that whilst in others many have been unable to fix upon 
any known type, or to remain consistently supporting it, there grew up respecting the Dragoon 
pigeon two very distinct schools or standards, which at one time were so widely apart that there 
seemed no hope of reconciliation ; and though, as we shall see, the difference is not now so great as 
it was, there are still people who differ much as to the proper standard of a perfect Dragoon. 
The very name has been much disputed over. It is generally pronounced Dragon in pigeon 
circles ; and hence many have argued that it should be spelt accordingly. We have not done so 
because, in the first place, both the word and its sound, so spelt, are barbarous and devoid of 
meaning; secondly, the old books conclusively show that such was not the original spelling; and 
thirdly, because the kindred names of Carrier and Horseman, given by the old fanciers to birds 
more or less allied — and the Horseman very closely so — show beyond doubt the idea which lay at 
the root of all three names alike, viz., that of a mounted messenger . Considering, therefore, that a 
new and ignorant pronunciation should not be allowed to alter a word of known form and 
etymological history, but rather the correct form if possible be retained to correct the pronuncia- 
tion, we retain the old spelling as not only the genuine one, but far more elegant ; and even 
further, ask our readers to assist, if possible, in restoring also in sound the true name of Dragoon. 
We have just hinted that not a great while ago opinion was much more unsettled in regard to 
Dragoons even than it is now ; and we may add that very great advance has been made in the 
pigeon itself of late years, especially as regards truth and excellence of colour. As a simple 
illustration of both these points, we may relate an incident within our own experience only a very 
little while ago. At one of the chief exhibitions of the year we met, along with many other 
breeders, a well-known Dragoon fancier, who has then and since complained as much as almost 
any one of the awards of judges, and combated most actively the opinions of many fanciers; and 
on this occasion also he drew attention to what he called the “shameful ” awards in the class fot 
Blues, saying that none of the winners were Dragoons. We thereupon asked to be shown his idea 
of a Dragoon, and were shown a bird accordingly, with the exclamation, “ That’s the bird should 
have won !” and when we asked why, he added, “ Because it is the only Blue Dragoon in the class,” 
asking also what we thought of it ? Being on the top tier, and our personal stature being 
decidedly of the “ short ” order, we could only see its head ; but from that alone we at once 
replied, “Surely you don’t want a Blue Dragoon to have a white rump, do you?” He admitted he 
did not, when we asked for the bird to be handed duvvr., and it had the well-known blemish, sure 
enough. Then he affirmed he had made a mistake, and picked the wrong bird, and another was 
selected ; but this too had not only the same fault, but was mealy on the thighs. Finally, a third 
