

FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
327 

cuts would swell the price too high for many that may have 
a mind to purchase this work; and, on the contrary, that if 
they are not delineated with the utmost accuracy, according 
to their various characteristics, they only puzzle the mind, 
and render the description of them more obscure, and there- 
fore I chose rather to have none than bad ones. 
In the sequel of this work, I have endeavored as near as 
possible to give exact criterions for the knowledge of each 
distinct species; and being aware that bare descriptions are 
often tedious and irksome, I have sometimes endeavored to 
relax the mind by throwing in some diverting parts of his- 
tory, which, though not altogether necessary to the main 
purport of the treatise, will I hope answer the end for which 
they were designed. 
Being well assured that this book will fall into the hands 
of many of the illiterate part of mankind, who are altogether 
ignorant of the terms of art, and even in the meaning of 
many words of more frequent use among the politer part, I 
have, for the sake of such, added an alphabetical explanation 
of the less common words made use of in this treatise. 
So hoping it will have the desired effect of pushing on 
some abler pen, I commit it at once to the candid censure of 
mankind. 
COLUMBARIUM: 
OR, THE PIGEON-HOUSE. 
THE INTRODUCTION. 
ZooLoay, or the History of Animals, has been a task in 
all ages deemed worthy the consideration of the best and 
ablest philosophers, and many branches of this useful history 
have been handed down to us from them in an elegant and 
instructive manner, showing us the beauty and wisdom of 
Providence and our great Creator in the formation of such 
an almost infinite variety of creatures, and raising our 
thoughts to the sublimest notions of that tremendous Being, 
whose almighty fiat gave them birth; at the same time 
teaching us to adore his bounty and goodness in making 
mankind their superior, and submitting them all to his 
use. The contemplation of God in his creatures sets us such 
a lesson of humility as ought to make the proud man blush, 
and humbly prostrate himself before the throne of that 
omnipotent invisible Deity, whose hand supports him in 
common with the brute creation. 
I could wish some abler pen had undertook the work now 
before me, but having examined most of the writers on these 
subjects, and finding in them either no account at all, or 
else a very imperfect and superficial one, which, for want of 
a due opportunity to examine the bird they were describing, 
they have generally taken up at random and upon credit, I 
thought it in some measure incumbent upon me to attempt 
a natural history of this kind, partly as having in my own 
house most of the sorts to be described, and partly to pro- 
voke other gentlemen, who have more skill and ability, to 
rescue this part of the history of animals from that obscurity 
it has so long labored under. 
In order therefore to render this treatise (which has been 
so long due from one part of my countrymen, I mean the 
naturalists, and so long desired by another), as complete as 
possible, I shall divide this book intotwo parts. In the first 




I shall treat of the method of keeping, breeding, and pre- 
serving of pigeons; and in the second I shall give an account 
of the different sorts, endeavoring to clear up all obscurities, 
and render the knowledge and distinction of the several 
species facile to all those who either do or may hereafter 
delight in the contemplation of this innocent part of the 
creation; that by comparing any bird with the character- 
istics here given, they may be able to determine not only 
the species itself, but to form a tolerable judgment whether 
it be of the better sort or not; and to this end I have not 
only examined those birds of each sort which I keep myself, 
but have had recourse to, and consulted most of the oldest 
and most experienced persons that kept pigeons and delighted 
in this fancy. 
But not to detain you any longer with the introduction, 
I shall, in the first place, give an account in what manner 
to build your loft. 
THE METHOD OF BUILDING A LOFT. 
A pigeon-loft ought to be built to the south or southwest, 
the sun lying warmest on them from those quarters; but if 
you have not that convenience, you may make a hole in the 
roof of your house, and there lay your platform, smaller or 
larger as youthink proper. A carpenter that is used to such 
work will put you in a method, always remembering to erect 
proper works to keep off those tormentors of the gentlemen 
of the Fancy,—the cats, for in one night’s time they will 
make a very great havoc, and are generally observed to 
destroy those pigeons which you most value; so that ’tis 
better to be at some charge first, to prevent the incursions 
of such dangerous and fatal invaders, who seldom or never 
give any quarters. 
Let your loft be large enough to contain the number of 
pigeons you intend to keep, always allowing at least two 
holes or breeding places for every pair; for the more room 
they bave, the more quiet they will sit, and breed the better. 
I once knew a gentleman who could not raise three young 
ones out of nine pair of breeding pigeons all the spring, and 
for above three months after, only by keeping them strait- 
ened in two narrow a compass; whereas, about the latter 
end of August, or beginning of September, he moved them 
into a larger loft, and the same pigeons bred well, even then, 
and through the most part of the winter. The reason of 
this inconvenience is this: salacious cocks will often be play- 
ing to and disturbing the others as they sit; and others who 
want room to sit will fight for nests, and by this means de- 
stroy both eggs and young ones. 
To make your breeding places, you may erect shelves of 
about fourteen inches broad, allowing eighteen inches be- 
twixt shelf and shelf, for otherwise your tall Pouters, by 
being forced to crouch for want of height, will get a habit 
of playing low, and spoil their carriage. In these shelves 
erect partitions at about the distance of three feet, fixing a 
blind by a board nailed against the front, on each side of 
every partition ; by this means you will have two nests in 
the length of every three feet, and your pigeons will sit dark 
and private. You may, if you please, fix a partition between 
each nest, to prevent the young ones from running to the 
hen when sitting at the other end and cooling her eggs ; for 
in breeding time, when the young ones are about three weeks 
old, the hen, if a good breeder, will lay again, and leave the 
cock to take care of and bring up the young ones. 
(To be continued.) 
