C O L U M B a; 829 
fprouting from the back part of the crown of its head, 
-refembling that of the finikin ; but others are without 
any. The plumage of the original barb is either dun or 
black; for though there are pieds of both the fie colours, 
fanciers in general fet but little value on them, as they 
are fiuppofed to be bred from a barb and a Mahomet. 
The Mahomet.— This bird is of a beautiful cream-co¬ 
lour, with black bars acrofis its wings ; its feathers are 
very remarkable, for though the outlide, or furface of 
them, is of a cream-colour, yet the underfide, or that part 
xiext the body, is of a dark footy brown, as is alfo its Ikin 
and down feathers, which is peculiar to this pigeon. It 
is about the fixe of a turbit, and, inftead of a frill, has a 
fine gullet, with a handfome learn of feathers; it has a 
thick Ihort head, with an orange-coloured eye, encom- 
paffed with a fmall naked circle of black flefh ; its bill is 
furnilhed with a fmall black wattle, and is Ihort and thick. 
Some are of opinion that this bird is of a hybrid (train, 
between a turbit and fome other pigeon. It takes its 
name, however, from Mahomet the impoftor, author of 
the Alcoran, He procured a beautiful young pigeon of 
this fpecies, which, from the extraordinary whitenels of 
its plumage, was no degrading fymbol of the celeltial dove. 
He brought it up by hand, making it fo tame and fami¬ 
liar, that he taught it to take its food out of his ear, which 
might ealiiy be done, efpecially if he put hemp or rape- 
feed in his ear, which all pigeons are immoderately fond 
• of, till at length the pigeon frequently flow upon his 
lhoulder, putting its beak into his ear in fearch of its 
food. This bird he perfuaded the Arabians was the vifi- 
ble appearance of the Holy Ghoft, whifipering and dic¬ 
tating the words of the Alcoran, and teaching him the 
precepts of his new law. 
The Lace-Pigeon, —This fancy-pigeon is in great 
plenty in fome parts of Holland, where it was originally 
bred; though at prefent very fcarce in England. It is 
about the fize of a common runt, and not unlike it in 
make and lhape, but its colour is always white. It dif¬ 
fers from all other pigeons, whofe plumage is compofed 
of a dole fmooth feather; but the web or fibres of the 
feather in this bird, appear unconnected with each other, 
and, as it were, difunited throughout its whole plumage: 
in Ihort, the make of its feather is very peculiar, and gives 
the bird a pretty though fingular appearance, as if covered 
with lace; and from hence it derives its name. 
The Frill-Back. —This pigeon, like the laft deferib- 
ed, is remarkable only for the peculiar turn of its fea¬ 
thers, all of which look as if they had been diftinflly and 
purpofely raifed at the end with a fmall round pointed 
inlfrument, in fuch a manner as to make a fmall hollow 
in each of them; or, as if the bird had been under the 
bands of fome modern hair-dreffer, and had its plumage 
frizzled and curled at the ends. It is in fize lefs than 
the common runt, though very much like it in lhape; 
and its plumage is always white. 
The. propagation and domellication of pigeons, being 
confelfedly an ufeful as well as profitable amufement, it 
becomes neceffary that we fhould give fome inltruttions 
for that purpofe. The pigeon-houle, or dove-cot, (hould 
be credited on a dry and elevated fituation, and made fe- 
cure againlt vermin of every defeription. Thofe of a 
round form are, on many accounts, preferable to thofe 
which are fquare. The coves or nefting-boxes Ihould be 
fo contrived that the pigeons may fit nearly in the dark, 
which is a fituation they much covet. Nefting-places 
^nade in the walls of the dove-cot were highly elteemed, 
till the invention of earthen pots, or balkets; for it has 
lometimes happened that thofe built in the walls have 
had fome chink or aperture, through which rats or other 
vermin have found means to intrude; but the pot being 
cfone entire piece, keeps them out, except it be at the 
mouth. There is another fort made of round tiles, placed 
upon each other, in external appearance not unlike the 
fhape of a water-pipe; and thefe are ranged about the 
Vol. IV. No. Z4.2". 
diftance of half a foot from each other, fitted upon bricks 
fuited to the circular form of the tiles, which lerve alio 
to part the nefts; but as thefe are -not fb con venie'nt as 
the pots, they are fe-idom ufed. As the pigeon does not 
always build a nelt, it is neceffary to have a fmall cavity 
lur.k at the bottom of the coves, to prevent the eggs from 
rolling afide; for, though the pigeon may fit well in her 
nelt, if this accident happens they will certainly be l'poil- 
ed : particular care fhould alfo be taken, that the coves 
in the walls be of a fize fufricient for the cock and hen to 
(land upright in. The firft range of nelting-places Ihould 
be about four feet from the ground, the wall below them 
being made very l'mooth, and (heathed with tin, that the 
rats may not be able to reach them. Thefe nefts, or 
coves, Ihould be placed chequer-wife, and not direCtly 
over one another; nor fhould they be raifed any higher 
than within one yard of the top of the wall; and it is 
cuftomary to cover the upper row of thefe coves with a 
board fet Hoping, and projecting at leaft a foot and a half 
from the wall, for fear the rats or floats fhould find means 
to get down from the top. Before the mouth of every 
cove, which mult be built even with the wall, (hould be 
fixed a fmall flat ftone, to projeCt out of the wall three or 
four inches, for the pigeons to reit upon in going in or 
coming out from their nelts, or when the weather obliges 
them to remain prifoners at home. Befides the dove-cot, 
there are pigeon-houfes of different forms and fixes, built 
of various materials, but moltly of wood, ereCted in court¬ 
yards, farm-yards, and the yards of inns; but in what 
manner foever they are conltruCted, the fame advice is in- 
difpenlably neceffary to be complied with, in defending 
the pigeons from the noCturnal depredations of the wea- 
zel, pole-cat, rat, See. 
The months of May and Augull are the moll proper 
feafons to flock the pigeon-houle; young pigeons being 
then ftrong and plenty, and loon in a condition to yield 
profit to the breeder. As to the number neceffary to flock 
a pigeon-houfe, that depends upon the inclination, abili¬ 
ty, or convenience, of the purchaf'er ; if few pigeons are 
put in, it will be fome time before any advantage is reap¬ 
ed, for none mud be taken out of the pigeon-houfe be¬ 
fore it is well flocked. The common blue pigeon, being 
both prolific and hardy, is mod worthy the attention of 
country people, as it is generally remarked that the fmall 
pigeons rear the greatefl number of young ones; but, 
when the breed of pigeons becomes too fmall, it will be 
proper to intermix a few of the common tame fort; in 
the procuring of which, care mull be had not to feleCfc 
thofe of glaring colours, for the others will not ealiiy af- 
fociate with them. On farms contiguous to large towns, 
where feed is fcarce, though the maintenance is expen- 
five, it will turn to good account to keep a number of 
the large tame pigeons; for, as they hatch early in the 
feafon, the young are always fat and valuable. On farms 
more remote from cities and towns, where feed is in plen¬ 
ty, the common pigeons are greatly preferable; for, as 
they increale very fall, and are kept at a fmall expence, 
their numbers over-balance the fuperior fize of the others. 
Pigeons Ihould be kept very clean, for, though they 
make a great deal of dung, they do not like to live in it 5 
care Ihould be taken to prevent darlings and other birds 
from vifiting their nefts, as they will fuck or dellroy their 
eggs; alfo that there are not too many cocks in propor¬ 
tion to the hens, for this is a conftant fource of mifehief, 
as the cocks difagree and drive each other away, which 
proves detrimental to the flock. Pigeons are kept to bell 
advantage near thole lands which are fowed with horfe- 
beans and grey-peafe ; for thefe pulle being (own early in 
the feafon, the bird by feeding on them acquires great 
vigour, and hatches its young early in the feafon, which 
is a beneficial circumftance to the owner. Barley and 
buck-wheat are very ftrengthening food, and caul'e them 
to lay frequently. Tares and white peafe are all'o Very- 
proper for pigeons. Though the common fort will pre- 
10 B vid§ 
