The “ Birmingham " Standard. 
203 
by strewing the gravel with common salt occasionally it answers all the purposes of a salt cat. For 
food use the very best, it is by far the cheapest, and get it old : tares, grey peas, tick beans, buck- 
wheat ; and during the breeding season I add small quantities of wheat, barley, rice, groats, millet, 
and canary seed, or any other small seed, as I find those in the nest thrive better, and when out 
of the nest they learn to pick up much sooner when the seeds are small, and I am a great advocate 
for a variety of food. For water, I have a small cistern lined with lead, three feet by nine inches, 
with wire bars all round, just wide enough to admit the head of the bird to drink, thus 
preventing the birds bathing or soiling the water. The water runs in at one end and out at the 
other. By this means they get a continuous supply of fresh water. This arrangement is in the 
inside of my loft. I have been induced to enter ; nto these particulars, not for the benefit of 
old fanciers, but for new beginners, and for the information of those who have so often asked, 
‘ How is it Graham’s birds are in such condition? ’ This question has not been asked only once, 
but scores of times ; in fact, I or my man never visit a show but we are asked it. The best 
answer I can give is to call attention to the above rules ; and although the strain has some- 
thing to do with it, it must be borne in mind that any place or any treatment will not do for 
the ‘ Game-cock ’ of the pigeon fancy.’'’ 
Such is a description by a well-known breeder of the modern “ London” Dragoon — we say 
modern, because no doubt it is in some slight degree modified from what has been shown by some 
London fanciers in past years. It will be most convenient to give next the description of a modern 
“ Birmingham ” Dragoon with which we have been kindly furnished by Mr. J. W. Ludlow, who has 
often written upon this subject, and has been one of the steadiest advocates of the slighter model. 
“As there still remains considerable differences of opinion as to what constitutes a proper 
Dragoon at his best and perfect state, it has been thought necessary to consider fully, and in all 
its bearings, both sides of the question. At the present time (as nearly every fancier of the day 
must know) we have two standards of this breed ; and as the Dragoon subject is not a matter that 
can be determined by one or a few individual fanciers, the authors of this work, I think, have 
acted wisely in permitting space in these pages for the expression of the views of each side or 
this interesting subject. 
“ I need scarcely say that I am not an admirer of the ‘London style,’ nor am I likely to be 
persuaded of its merits so long as I am enabled to look upon such as are to me of incomparable 
beauty. Both styles are of one family, and each sort are allied to Carriers ; but the Birmingham 
style is the farthest removed therefrom, the London type being the coarse, rough, weedy outcasts 
of the Carrier loft, being too light and sprightly, or in some cases too young for show Carriers, 
and yet too heavy and clumsy to be worthily ranked with the neat, light, tight, and more 
symmetrical Dragoon proper, such as represents the ‘Birmingham’ fancy. 
“ Now, in deference to the opinions of my fellow-fanciers, I would not like to say one word 
too much against their views or their choice. The subject after all is simply a matter of choice, but 
I am of opinion that all fanciers who will calmly give fair consideration to this subject will give 
an overwhelming verdict in favour of the Birmingham style. The London Dragoon, doubtless, is 
a big, bold bird ; the greatest fault, perhaps, is that there is too much of him. He is coarse and 
overgrown, in fact is merely the rough groundwork from which a superior and more refined stock 
may be propagated. Yet such birds, even to the coarsest of them, have been chosen as victors at 
.shows almost innumerable, though happily not by judges so numerous, but merely by a small 
selection of gentlemen, some of whom have been as uncompromising in their judgment as they are 
chimerical in their notions upon this subject. Thus, by the conscientious convictions of purely 
