48 1 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. —September 30,185G. 
FANCY PIGEONS. 
Having now arrived at that part of the present series 
which will treat of all Fancy Pigeons, of which there are a 
great variety, it will be advisable to devote a few words to 
the intended arrangement or classification of these interest¬ 
ing birds. The first division or classification which presents 
' itself is that of dividing them into two grand classes. First, 
all such as have any distinct property not possessed by 
the generality, and by which they may be at once distin¬ 
guished in any of their varieties from any other breed. 
These properties mark the distinctness of the various breeds ; 
adhere to them through all the varieties of the breed ; are 
capable of being increased to a certain degree by careful and 
attentive breeding; and are also liable to an amount of 
degeijeracy if the breed is not carefully watched. Yet these 
points, or properties, as they are called, or, in other words, 
the distinctive attributes of the certain breeds, are so per¬ 
manent, that we never hear, or expect to hear, of two 
■ Pigeons of one breed producing young of another kind. 
Many of them, it is true, will, if two of different breeds are 
paired together, produce mongrels, which partake partly of 
both sorts, and are again fertile; but, on the other band, 
some of the breeds, if crossed, produce mongrels which 
have not the power to reproduce inter se, and which, I con¬ 
sider, goes far to prove that the theory that all our Fancy 
Pigeons are of one stock is, in some measure, erroneous. 
The constancy of the various sorts to breed true to the 
properties of their respective breeds, and the total absence 
of one case on record of a distinct kind having been pro¬ 
duced from other kinds, will, I think, in some measure, up¬ 
set that theory which looks on all the various forms as 
accidental variations produced by domestication. Surely, 
if such variations have taken place so often, it is not too 
much to expect an occasional instance even in our time. 
I should rather incline to the opinion that our domestic 
Pigeons had several original parents, from the admixture 
of whose offspring numerous breeds had sprung. At least, 
I regard all such Pigeons as have distinctive marks, or 
properties, as entitled to rank as distinct breeds, and to bear 
the rank of Fancy Pigeons. 
The second division would contain all such as depend 
principally on the colour or marking of their plumage for 
their worth, and which have no points or properties but 
which might be borrowed from other breeds. Such are 
undoubtedly the effects of domestication, or the produce of 
mixtures of certain other breeds. In the majority the type of 
the Dovehouse Pigeon is very prevalent, and such are ap¬ 
propriately designated Toys. The first division admits of 
being again subdivided into many classes, according to the 
most prominent feature or property; and though each class 
may contain several distinct breeds, as at present recognised, 
yet they bear such marks as to give an idea of their being 
descendants of one original breed. I do not set this theory 
forth as infallible, but simply as my view of the case, after 
many years carefully watching, and also gathering all the in¬ 
formation I could obtain on the subject. It is on this plan 
of classification that I shall endeavour to arrange the fol¬ 
lowing, breeds ; and, as an example will better show what I 
mean, I will, for the sake of explanation, digress a little 
on the first class, the Wattled or Waited Pigeons. This 
class contains :—1. The Persian or Turkish Carrier. 2. 
The Bagdad Pigeons, or Scandarroons. 3. The Barbs. 4. 
The English Carriers, the Horseman and Dragoon; and also 
some other continental varieties. All these have wattles 
on the beaks, and ceres round the eyes, yet are sufficiently 
different to be considered as distinct breeds, though belong¬ 
ing to one class. More than this, there is a great probabi¬ 
lity of their being of one breed originally, for all fanciers 
know that, having a certain property, it can in time, by 
careful breeding, be increased or diminished. The beak may 
be got longer or shorter, or the form of the body altered ; but 
they cannot make any property, any more than they can a 
beak or a leg; but, having got the wattle, beak; or leg, they 
can work upon it, and alter its form or size. 
The various classes I shall endeavour to trace to their 
origin where I have any clue to follow; and I shall, in my 
next, endeavour to show the origin and relationship of the 
| Wattled Pigeons.—B. P. Brent. 
I 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Paralysed Wing.— “I have a young Golden-pencilled Hamburgh . 
Cock which drags one wing. Nothing to be telt or seen. It was seen 
first of a morning. No other cock near. I have fomented it, hut no 
good. It flies tolerably. I think this class is subject to this relaxation 
of the first and second wing joint. It looks very bad hitching in the 
bird's legs, and he is a good one. I never saw it before so bad. Is it 
Common, and what is the remedy ? —W. H.” 
[We have never seen such a case as that mentioned by you in a 
Hamburgh cock. We should advise you to tie the wing in its proper posi¬ 
tion, which may be done by the feathers, only avoiding any ligature , 
round-the flesh. As he flies well there can be no fracture of the hone.] j 
Apoplexy in Polish Fowl (C. P .).—“I have a Polish cockerel, 
which was taken very suddenly a lew days since apparently in a fit; it 
fell to the ground senseless ; it was bled in the head, and had a dose of 
castor oil given to it; it is very much better, but he is still very moping, 
with a weakness in the legs, and, at times, a contraction of the toes ; ho 
eats little, or, indeed, nothing but a small quantity of soaked bread in 
water, or some meat, which I am afraid to give him, not knowing if it is 
good for him." 
[Do not give the bird any meat, nor any hard corn. Boiled mashed 
Potatoes, with a little barley-meal and plenty of green food, will be the 
best food for him until he has quite recovered the use of his legs.] 
LONDON MARKETS.—September 20th. 
CO VENT GARDEN. 
Trade rather dull. Supply moderate. Among continental arrivals we 
have to report some Dutch Hamburgh Grapes of fair quality. The usual 
varieties of Pears from the Channel Islands and France have come to 
hand in considerable quantities during the past week, enabling us to 
quote rather lower prices. Peaches and Nectarines plentiful ; English 
Pines in rather better demand now the West India ones have disappeared. 
POULTRY. 
The only difference we have to note in our market report is, that 
young Grouse are scarcer than they were ever known to be. 
LargeFowls 4s. Od. to 4s. 6J. each. 
Smaller do 3s. Od. to 3s. 6d. ,, 
Chickens.. 2s. Od. to 2s. Gd. ,, 
Grouse.... 4s. Od. to 4s. fid. ,, 
Partridges.. Is. 9<1. to 2s. Od. ,, 
Leverets.3s. 6d. to 4s. ,, 
Hares .... 2s. 6d. to 3s. Od. each, 
Ducks.... 3s. Od. to 3s. 6d. ,, 
Geese.Gs. Od. to 6s. 6d. ,, 
Pigeons .. 8d. to 9d. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 4d. to Is. 5d. ,, 
Wild ditto.lOd. to Is. „ 
London: Printed by Hdgu Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20 , Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—September 30, 1856. 
£Hf$!crttijcmcnt3. 
Thirteenth Thousand, 
The Dictionary of Domestic Medicine 
and Household Surgery. By SPENCERTHOMSON, M.D. 
Price 78. cloth, 10s. 6d. calf. 
“The best and safest book on Domestic Medicine and Household 
Surgery which has yet appeared ."—London Journal of Medicine. 
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TV!" agic and Mechi, with a Portrait of 
I. J. MECHI, Esq, of Tiptree. Which is the best Reaper? 
The Agricultural Philosopher’s Stone ; or, How to turn Beet-root to 
Gold. In No. 20 of the “FARMER'S CLUB,” Agricultural Magazine. 
Sixpence, post free. 
G. T. THOMASON, 10, Upper Thames Street; and GROOM- 
BRIDGE, Paternoster Row. 
The First Volume of Lowe’s British 
and Exotic Ferns will be published on the 15th of October. 
1856, in Royal 8vo., Price 14s., containing Fifty Coloured Plates and 
numerous Wood Engravings. * 
London: GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row. 
On the 1st of October , price 5s., 
HPhe Gardener’s Every-day Book, 
containing full instructions for the Cultivation and Management ! 
of the Flower, Fruit, and Kitchen-garden, the Conservatory, Hothouse, i 
Stove, Greenhouse, See. By GEO. GLENN Y, F.H.S. 
London: GEQKGE COX, King Street, Covent Garden. 
