11 
VARIETIES OF PIGEONS. 
THE HOMER. 
The best variety of pigeons to keep for squab raising is the 
“straight” Homer (fig. 7). 
These magnificent birds are large and healthy; are good workers, 
always active and hunting about like the Leghorn fowls; are the best 
of feeders; are of quiet disposition when properly mated; and their 
eggs are seldom infertile. For these reasons I consider the straight 
Homers par excellence among all the pigeon kind 
for squab farming. 
THE DRAGOON. 
The Dragoon (fig. 8) is much esteemed by some, 
but I have yet to find an intelligent breeder who 
accords the first place to any variety except the 
Homer. When the latter 
are not procurable in suffi¬ 
cient numbers or the price 
seems to be too high, a cross 
between a Homer and a 
Dragoon usually gives ex¬ 
cellent results. The Dra¬ 
goon is a large bird, a good 
worker and feeder, 
quiet in disposition 
the Homer, and, 
crossed as directed, 1 
squabs are of good si: 
The crossing of these Fig. 7.-White Homing pigeon, 
varieties can be accom¬ 
plished with equal success either by mating a Homer cock and a Dra¬ 
goon hen, or a Dragoon cock and a Homer hen. Straight Dragoon 
squabs are usually five weeks in growing to sufficient size for market, 
while straight Homer squabs are ready in four weeks and sometimes 
a trifle less. 
THE DXJCHESSE. 
By some this variety is preferred. The writer is not enthusiastic 
in regard to these birds because a full blood of this variety is not 
nearly so good a feeder as the Homer. A cross of Homer and 
Duchesse blood will yield a good squab, but not equal to the straight 
Homer, and the presence of feathers on the legs, a characteristic of 
the Duchesse, is a disadvantage when dressing them. 
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