Mr. Ludlow ox Breeding. 
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that the Dragoon is a very pugnacious pigeon, and his long and strong beak is a very formidable 
weapon when used in combat. Irreparable injury may speedily be inflicted by him upon any smaller 
and more delicate kinds, and even amongst themselves ; therefore ample space should always be 
provided, and the several compartments, or allotted spaces for each pair, should be either 
well separated, placed asunder, or else conspicuous marks made upon them whereby each pair of 
birds may easily distinguish their own quarters. The Dragoon is well suited to enjoy freedom, and 
if their owners live in the country, or in the suburbs of our towns, where the atmosphere is com- 
paratively clear and the habitation somewhat detached, or entirely isolated, there is no reason why 
they should not have entire liberty, and be brought up, when wanted, hard as a board , and 
in perfect condition. My habit has always been to indulge my stock of Dragoons with perfect 
freedom for at least a few of the brightest hours of the day, and although I have but few at 
the present time, I have for many years kept a large stock, and been an ardent admirer of them. 
“ If these birds are bred and kept chiefly for exhibition purposes, rather than a pure 
gratification of the tastes of their owners, extra care should be taken to keep them always in the 
height of plume. Condition must be kept up, without which hopes are futile, for no matter how 
perfect they may be upon a summary of points, if, from ill-health or other cause they are not in 
tip-top condition, they cannot show off their good qualities to advantage. Remember, too, that 
a good match is half a win ; an ill-assorted pair is at once an eyesore, and therefore passed by. 
In setting out one’s plans as an exhibitor many of the pleasures of the breeder must be sacrificed, 
for, as is known, you cannot do both with any degree of success. As a regular exhibitor, you must 
remove your birds from eggs or young to suit the shows — in fact, toss over every consideration. 
This I could never do. I look with pleasure upon our winter exhibitions as they come round ; 
I enjoy the friendly spirit of rivalry which is aroused by them, and occasionally I join the contest ; 
but, as a rule, I prefer my birds at home ; and it is through the breeding season (in a well-stocked, 
well-ordered stud of birds) that one acquires a thorough knowledge of the habits and peculiarities 
of pigeons, which no amount of study of them at exhibitions can possibly convey. 
“ In breeding these birds no fixed rules can safely be recorded, for under special circumstances 
an entire change is frequently necessary. For breeding Blues, Blues should be mated with Blues, as 
a rule ; but under this system even, if long continued, or close breeding be resorted to, there is a 
natural tendency to become lighter in colour, until they approach a washed-out blue or silver tint. 
In such cases a cross with a neat-made Black will, if not at once, ultimately restore the deeper tone, 
and also insure uniformity of colour on back and thigh and richness of hackle. Silvers are 
produced from Blues ; the lighter toned Blues more especially will frequently throw Silvers, 
and by these Silvers being selected and mated to their like from time to time the colour has been 
vastly improved and established. I have no doubt, however, that the majority of good Silvers now in 
existence are rather close-bred birds. Singular to state, of the Silver variety, from seventy to eighty 
per cent, are hen birds, and this, with other things, is proof of their consanguineous extraction ; for 
it is a fact that (in pigeons) the closer the affinity to each other the greater is the preponderance 
of hen birds. Silvers should be kept to Silvers, but may occasionally be crossed with the faintest 
of Blues, and that but seldom, or the majority of the issue will revert to the original colour ; the 
more so because with Silvers there is a natural tendency to breed to the parent stock, the chief 
objects of the cross being to intensify the ‘ bar ’ and maintain the stamina of the race. 
“ Reds and Yellows should only be crossed with Blacks. These may be mixed together in a 
judicious manner, taking care not to infuse too much of the Black cross, or its effect will be soon 
apparent in either small ticks of black throughout the body, or by a dingy back, belly, and thigh ; 
but the rule should be, Yellows to Reds, and Reds to Blacks, in cases where a deeper and richer 
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