414 
:\.MEEIOA]N" AaEIOULTUEiST. 
[OCTOBEK, 
Breeding Pigeons—Jacobins and Fantails. 
More than ordinary attention is now being given 
to the breeding of pigeons, and scarcely a day 
passes without bringing to our attention the won¬ 
derful feats of the Homing variety in their remarka¬ 
ble trials of speed. We have given illustrations of 
the Carrier Pigeon, and now present engravings of 
THE FANTAin PIGEON. 
Engraved for the American AgrUtuUuriU. 
two other striking classes, viz., the Jacobins and 
Fantails. The various breeds of fancy pigeons pre¬ 
sent a wonderful variety in the color and mark¬ 
ings, as well as in the size and form. So great arc 
the differences among them that one finds it difli- 
cult to believe that all are varieties of one species 
of wild pigeon, yet no fact in natural history is 
better established than that all the domestic 
pigeons were derived from the Wild or Rock 
Pigeon of Europe. It is estimated that there are 
more than one hundred and fifty distinct kinds of 
pigeons which breed true and have been named. 
The peculiarities which distinguish the breeds arc 
not external markings alone. The skull, beak, and 
even important bones of the body have been 
altered in sueh a manner that the differences be¬ 
tween breeds of pigeons are as great as between 
some genera of birds. The breeds of fancy pigeons 
should have special interest for the farmer and 
stoek-breeder, as they show in a striking manner 
how far it is possible to modify the typical form 
of a domesticated animal by human agency. 
The Jacobin and the Fantail are very unlike in 
external appearance. The Jacobin is a very neat 
bird with long wings and tail, and a rather short 
beak. The distinctive feature of this breed is the 
hood, which almost incloses the head, and meets 
in front of the neck. The hood consists of certain 
feathers of the neck which are greatly increased in 
size and reversed in their grow'th. The hood gives 
a singularly quaint appearance to these exceedingly 
quiet, home-loving birds. The Fantails are quite 
the opposite of the modest Jacobins, being the 
proudest and most vain of all pigeons, and on ac¬ 
count of their beauty are one of the most popular 
of all the fancy breeds. The tail in the wild pigeon 
contains twelve feathers. In the Fantail tuc num¬ 
ber is greatly increased, as many as forty-two hav- 
! ing been noticed. The feathers are long and broad, 
and are arranged in an irregular double row point¬ 
ing upward and expanding like a fan. Though 
the usual position of the tail is erect, it may be de¬ 
pressed so as to sw'eep the ground. The bird has 
a full and broad breast, and its thin neck is bowed 
backwards. In the best birds of this breed, the car¬ 
riage is a peculiar strut, the head being carried back¬ 
wards until it touches the tail feathers. Fantails 
with pure white plumage are the most popular. 
Wooden Foundations for Buildings, 
In many sections where stone are scarce and 
brick not easily obtained, wood is from necessity 
employed in foundations for houses and other 
buildings. The wooden supports usually consist 
of sections of a log one or two feet in length, set 
upon end at the corners and other parts of the 
building. Blocks thus placed decay in a few years, 
especially where the sills rest upon them. There 
are tw'o good plans whereby this trouble is 
in a great measure overcome. Two well sea¬ 
soned and oiled blocks, four inches wide, two 
inches thick and ten inches long, are placed edge¬ 
wise on the top of the foundation blocks. This In¬ 
sures a free circulation of air, and rapid evapora¬ 
tion after a rain. The lower block is cut in the form 
of a triangle, and laid upon the ground, thus shed¬ 
ding rain, and quickly drying out when wet. An¬ 
other form of wooden support for small buildings 
consists of pieces of sawed stuff, two feet long, 
two inches thick, and six inches wide, laid up 
like open brick work. This makes a very neat 
foundation, and dispenses with the building of 
lattice work. If the outer face is planed and 
painted, this adds to the good appearance and 
utility as well as durability of the foundation. 
Animal Ailments. 
I'RorESSOK D. D. SLACK, HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 
Throwing up the Head.—W. L. Liptrott, Brookljui, 
N. Y., has a horse of much value, which has a trick of 
throwing the head up and down, and of moving the bit. 
He has tried different bits and martingales, but without 
effect.—Horses, like men, often acquire strange and un¬ 
accountable tricks, which are very difficult to overcome. 
The one in question is undoubtedly owing to long and 
continuous confinement of the head to some unnatural 
position in his early days, piol)ably by the use of a tiglit 
bearing rein, with a more or less cruel bit. We know 
of no way of overcoming this difficulty, except by exer¬ 
cising the utmost patience, and by allowing all the free¬ 
dom possible to the head and neck, consistent witli the 
owner's comfort and safety. A plain bit, without the 
use of bearing rein should ho tried. In the course of 
time, the trick may be overcome, or forgotten. 
Weakness op the Loins. —W. Spear, Montgomery 
Co., Alabama, has a horse that rises with difficulty after 
lying down, and is troubled in getting up a hill even 
with a light load.—This condition is evidently depend¬ 
ent upon a weakness, whicli may be the result of in¬ 
jury to the spinal cord, such as would bo caused by a 
sprain or a blow. Whatever the cause, the animal is in 
no condition for work, and should be at once turned out 
to grass to recuperate his strength, before being again 
subjected to labor. Where practicable, douches of cold 
water upon the loins and spinal cord may be of service 
during the summer months. 
Struck by Lightning.— R. Berninghaus, Palo Alto 
Co., Iowa, had a three-year-old colt struck by lightning 
three weeks previous to writing. The animal was for an 
hour completely stunned, but has been very gradually 
recovering. The moutli hangs slanting to one side, and 
is much swollen externally. One of the eyes appears to 
be destroyed. His walk is staggering, and the hind legs 
are affected.—There is every probability that the animal 
will gradually regain his strength and health. The ner¬ 
vous system has undergone a tremendous shock, but 
with good care and attention, so j'oung an animal has. 
every chance to recover. No particular treatment is re¬ 
quired beyond the very best of care, plenty of nutri¬ 
tious food, and well aired quarters, with daily longhand 
rubbing of the limbs, and especially good grooming. 
Contraction of the Foot. —C. D. Harris, Frederick 
Co., Va., inquires for the mode of treatment for a horse 
with contraction of the “coffin bone.”—Contraction of 
the foot is a more proper designation of the condition 
in question, for the entire organ participates more or 
less in this abnormal state. Contraction is not to be. 
considered a disease in itself, but as a result of un¬ 
healthy changes, which various causes have brought, 
about in the foot. There is no more fertile cause for this 
condition, than the almost universal habit of “ opening 
up the heelsin the preparation of the foot for the 
shoe. Nature has placed a strong buttress at the heel, 
which is formed by bending in the ivall of horn towards 
the centre of the foot, constituting what is known as the 
bar. Now by cutting into this bar at the angle, this de¬ 
fence against contraction is very much weakened, and 
sooner or later, owing to this mutilation, the shape and 
size of the foot is altered. If the foot is to be preserved 
in its original normal condition, the entire lower surface, 
except the border of the wall, must be left untouched by 
knife or rasp. This cannot bo too strongly insisted 
upon. Where contraction has already taken place, we 
cannot hope to restore the parts to their former condi¬ 
tion. The treatment best suited for such cases is the 
removal of the shoes, and a run at grass in a wet pasture. 
No mechanical contrivances are of any avail. 
Obscure Lameness. —P. Smith, Kent Co., Mich., has 
a horse that evinces lameness after a drive of five to ten 
miles on the road. If in pain, it stands with the right 
toot forward, distu-ice in proportion to pain. Pain is 
produced on raising and bringing the foot forward. Has 
not been made lame often, or kept lame kng at a time.— 
It is difficult to form a diagnosis from these data. If 
the trouble was in the shoulder or elbow joint, then the 
lameness would be continuous, and manifested in the 
walk. At the same time, the pain experienced on lifting 
and moving forward the limb is almost a sure indication 
of disease in those same joints. Rheumatic aft'ection 
alone seems to ansiver to our inquiries, as this may at¬ 
tack any joint, and may appear and disappear. For 
treatment, use warm, stimulating lotions, well rub¬ 
bed iu at the seat of pain. The following is excel¬ 
lent: Two ounces of Hartshorn, the same quantity of 
Camphorated Spirit, an ounce of Oil of Turpentine, 
half an ounce Laudanum, mixed together. 1 njoin rest, 
or very slow farm work. For a horse that will not get fat 
on abundance of food, change the diet completely and 
give less work. A run at gr.ass for a few weeks would, 
in a case like the above, undoubtedly work wonders. 
THE JACOBIN PIGEON. — Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
