Makch 4. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
4ir 
I grow into muscle and strength. They will not be chilled by 
a trifling change in the weather, and will not hurry to cover 
if a few droi)s of rain fall. Let them have a dry, slndtered 
spot where then* is plenty of dust, let tliem have a heap of 
rubbisli somewhere near, and let real horse-manure be 
thrown upon it. This will induce them to scratch and work 
among it, and bring all their muscles into play. They will 
then grow in any weather. This is proper tliscipline. 
if they have stoves, hot-water pipes, and the many modern 
appliances for superseding nature, they become weak, their 
featliers are loose, they do not grow, a breath chills them, a 
drop of water scares them. If they do grow, long legs, 
large joints, taper necks, large heads, crooked backs, all 
testify to the hothouse-treatment. Such were seen some 
years since, when Poultry rearUnj was attempted by steam 
(of hafcluiii/, we say nothing, it was eminently successful); 
and those who belonged to the “ maniacs ” of that day can 
recollect, at every exhibition, a pen of such curiosilies, that 
the beholder was immediately struck with surprise, and 
casting his eye upwards in search of information respecling 
them, found it on a ticket setting forth they were “ hatched 
by steam.” This is generally the r(*sult of artificial heat. 
Where Poultry, as in the case of -4ylesbury ducklings, are in¬ 
tended to be food at a very early age, any appliance that 
will urge them forward is a good one; but where strength 
of constitution is needed, no hothouse process will answer. 
If such is adopted, the chickeos should have a place heated 
to a temperate atmosphere, and kept in it till the time of 
year has come round for the same temperature to be met 
with out-of-doors. But as we believe, tbat even in such a 
case, the naturally reared chickens, tliough months younger, 
would beat the object of so much care, we shall still class 
this as improi)er discipline. 
And now, a word for all. Do not over-tax the birds. They 
can only bear a certain amount of exhibiting. It is jjositively 
painful for a close observer to wat(dt the progress of a flrst- 
rate pen in some exhibitors’ hand. What startling excel¬ 
lence at the July Show—the cognoscenti shake their heads 
and say—“ If these are taken care of, nothing can beat them 
at Birmingliam.” They are seen again at the next show, 
and again win easily; a third time the difference is less 
n a ked between them and their rivals. The fourth time 
they win in spite of evident tokens of exhaustion, but it is 
a dear victory. Tlie owner flnds, too late, he has killed the 
goose that would lay the golden eggs, and all his pains¬ 
taking will not avert defeat. The same birds are seen again, 
pale faces, withered combs, loose feathers, and want of 
spirit, all testify to the work they have done ; and a pen not 
half so good, in reality, snatches the richest prize from their 
grasp by sheer better condition. 
RECENT POULTRY SALES. 
Sir Archibald Macdonald sent forty lots of Spanish fowls 
to Mr. Stevens’s last sale. The collection iucluded a larger 
number of superior cockerels than have been seen at any 
recent sale, but they did not realise very high prices. Six 
birds, lots Jd to d8, produced ATO 15. 
A well-known lady amateur in Hampshire sent several 
jmirs of very superior Golden-spangled Bolands, which sold 
far below their value ; and three pairs of very poor AVhite 
Bolands that pinduced much more than they were worth. 
Six Bouters, from Mr. Bult, produced A‘4 15. 
i\Ir. Forrest, of Dublin, sent a few very superior light- 
fieiicilled Brahmas, but they did not realise the prices that 
they have been lately making; not producing more than 
about 12s. each. 
CLASSIFICATION OF PIGEONS. 
As the judging and classifying of fancy Pigeons is creating 
considerable attention at the present time, it may not be out 
of place in The Cottage Gardener to publisli a few re¬ 
marks on the subject, in order to induce fanciers to adopt a 
scientific and natural classification. To commence, there¬ 
fore, at the proper end, we must begin with the Doves, or 
Arboreal Pigeons, of which I shall only enumerate onr native 
varieties ; next in order come the wild Pigeons, or terrestrial 
Doves, if I may so designate them; then follow all fancy 
Pigeons, whether they be the pampered pets of the old 
fanciers, or the less cultivated kinds, each of which bear , 
decided and distinct marks, ijoiuts of breed and properties, , 
which prove their distinctness, and which defy any one of j 
the old fanciers, who call them rubbish, to produce the like j 
from the Blue Rock, or Cliequered Dovehouse Pigeons, j 
by any system of domestication they may please to invent; j 
and, lastly, the Toy Pigeons, which undoubtedly owe their , 
origin to the Chequered Dovehouse Pigeon, which they so 
closely resemble in form, habits, and manners, as to leave 
no doubt on my mind of their intimate connection with that 
source, their variations of plumage, an occasional turned 
crown, or feathers on their feet—being the effect of domesti- ' 
cation, assisted by crossing with one or other of the fancy 
sorts, tlius dividing the English Pigeons into four classes, 
each of which contains many kinds or varieties. 
THE FIRST DIVISION ('OIll'IHSES ODR NATIVE DOVES. 
1. The Ring Dove, or Grmit AVbxjd Pigeon, the Cushat of 
the poets, or the IVood-Quesl of North Ireland. { Cuhmiha 
P(ilnmhiis of naturalists.) 
2, The Stock Dove. (Columla G'Jnas.) 
•I. The 'I'urtle Dove. {CoUnnha Turlur.) 
These three being arboreal in their habits, are, therefore, 
Doves and not Pigeons, and are, likewise, from their roving 
habits, not capable of domestication. 
THE SE(.:OND DIVISION INCLUDES OUR NATIVE WILD PIGEONS. 
4. The Blue Rock Pigeon, or Rock Dove. {Odltimha 
Iif to.) 
5. The Chequered Dove-house Pigeon, or Dove-cot 
Pigeon, known also as the Common Rock, or Runt, Duffer, 
or Rocky. (Cohimba offinis.) 
'These two kinds are true Pigeons ; they do not frequent 
trees, and have a fixed abode; they, too, are sociable, living 
in communities, and are ca])ab]e of domestication — the 
former with difficulty, the latter with ease. Both are to be 
found in this country, either in a wild or partially domesti¬ 
cated state. Naturalists consider these as the progenitors of 
all domestic Pigeons. I am inclined to admit that of some 
they may be, but not of all. 
THE THIRD DIVISION CONTAINS ALL FANCY PIGEONS, 
Such as have distinctive points, or properties not found in 
any other sort. In enumerating them, I shall, in deference 
to the old fanciers, place the four favoured kinds first on the 
list. 
0. The Carrier (Cohnnha Tuhellaria of Moore), with its 
vaiieties of Horseman and Dragoon. 
7. 'The 'Tumbler (CoUnnha Jlevolvens ditto), and its 
varieties, short-faced, flying, or feathered-footed. 
8. 'The I’outer (CoUnnha, Gattnrosa), and its English, 
Dutch, German, and French varieties. 
'■). 'TIio Runts (CoUnnha GUjanlea) either Roman, Leg¬ 
horn, Spanish, or Norwegian. 
10. 'I'lie Jacobin (CoUnnha Cjpria, Caadata) with the 
Ruff and Capuchin. 
11. 'Tiie Fantail, or Broad-tailed Shaker (CoUnnha Tremula 
Latlranda). 
12. 'The 'rrumpeter (CoUnnha Tihiceu). 
l-'b 'The Ijfuigher. (CoUnnha Hide ns.) 
14. 'The Barb or Barbary Pigeon (CoUnnha Ninnidieu), 
the Polish Pigeon of some. 
15. 'The Mahomet or Mawmet (CoUnnha vidlu vitjro), now, 
I believe, extinct in England. 
Ki. 'The 'Turbit. (Columha Fimhriata.) \ 
17. 'The Owl. (Columha Buho, Xominata.) 
18. 'The Finikin (CoUnnba. in Gynnn Flectens), and its 
varieties, the 'Turner and Smiter. ; 
10. 'T1 le Frill Back (Columha Crispala), perhaps the I 
Friesland Runt may be a variety of the same. 
20. 'The Lace or Silky Pigeon (Columha. Sericala). 
21. 'Tlie Antwerp. (Columha Tuhellaria Behjicu.) 'This ; 
Pigeon, in its pure state, undoubtedly belongs to the second I 
division, it being, I believe, the wild Mealy Rock of Belgium; 
but I have placed it here, being a domestic Pigeon in this 
country, unsurpassed by any in sagacity, though in its mixed 
state (that is, crossed with the Owl or Dragoon) its proper 
place would bg witli the 'Toys or Composites in tlie next 
division, 
A German writer on Pigeons says, that if a Fantail and 
