514 
FANCIER S’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
his house. The great thing is to have pigeons that “ roll ” 
or “tumble” well; a kind of vertigo seems to seize them, 
and they indulge in a variety of triple and quadruple som- 
ersaults in the air, that might shame “ Lulu ” or any other 
acrobat. The delighted owner sits smoking a short pipe, 
and inciting his flock to further efforts of agility, by waving 
a long bamboo rod, with a bladder or rag at the end of it; 
stirring them up with a long pole, in fact. The bird that 
is rather too “ fast,” i. e , inclined to bolt, is a nuisance. The 
capture of “ strays,” or lost pigeons, occupies a great deal of 
the attention of our friend of the tiles. When a “stray ” 
appears in sight, he stirs up his “kit,” and prepares for 
action; away go the “kit” to entice the stranger. The 
philosopher of the tiles has probably a “ trap ” affixed to 
his attic window, or some likely spot, and further arms him- 
self with a “ bow-net,” an instrument resembling in appear- 
ance a frying-pan with the bottom out. A home-loving 
pigeon that has no wish to soar aloft is turned out on the 
roof, and accommodated with a few peas, which the hungry 
“ stray ” sees him peacefully picking up, as he circles round 
with the “kit” (pigeons like company). The other birds 
no doubt tell him what a capital home they have. Sorely 
tempted, the stranger finally settles down, the “bow-net” 
closes over him, and the joyous captor runs with his prize 
to the nearest “ cage ” and sells him for the regulation price, 
which is ninepence. When birds are lost the “ cages ” and 
likely “ pubs ” are searched. Sunday night is a great time 
for making inquiries. It is good to watch the owner of a 
“ kit,” with a party of friends, intently following the evo- 
lutions of the birds. The company stand with their hats 
well on the back of their heads, looking skywards, and 
shading their eyes. All the casual observer sees are some 
dark specks careering about in the sky ; but the fraternity 
distinguish the pigeons in a wonderful manner. You hear 
strange remarks : “See that oddity cock roll right through 
his birds, William ?” “ Did you notice the mad tumbles of 
that black badge?” “The chequered ’un is a good ’un at 
short rolls,” &c., &c. There are high prices offered for dis- 
tinguished “rollers” and “ top flyers ” — “dollars,” “half 
quids,” “quids” even, for “crack” performers. The 
prices of pigeons vary considerably. They range from one 
shilling to twenty pounds a pair. The popular “ half quid ” 
is a common price for a good “ roller ” or “ mad tumbler.” 
It is a difficult matter to obtain perfect birds for show pur- 
poses ; they should match to a feather, almost. The pro- 
prietors of “cages” take orders for match birds, and in 
sawdusted parlors of sporting “pubs” you may see them 
produce from strange and occult pockets, a cock of true plu- 
mage, fit to mate with “ Old Joe Mawley’s dun hen.” Queer 
places, these “cages;” and queer beings to keep them. 
Sometimes it is an old woman, a lady intimately and pro- 
foundly learned in pigeons, poultry, rabbits, and rats, not to 
mention larks, linnets, finches, canaries, mules, and such 
small fry. She is equally ready to buy or sell, and can drive 
a hard bargain either way. Should a gentleman arrive and 
wish for a rat with his teeth taken out, to try a pup with, 
she will most artistically take out the rat’s fangs with an 
old pair of scissors, and stow him safely away in a bag in 
the customer’s pocket. Anxious little boys arrive, and con- 
sult her in the matter of rabbits. ISTo matter what branch of 
the fancy, mother is ready for all. Often the “ cage ” is con- 
nected with a public house, at which adjourned discussions 
relative to price are carried on. It is difficult to say at what 
speed a pigeon can fly ; they travel as the crow flies. Five 
or six miles in three minutes is counted good time, and ai 
bird resident in Birmingham has come several times from 
Birkenhead in two hours. After his journey he pays his 
usual polite attention to his household, and hops about in a 
light and airy manner, as though he had merely taken a 
slight “constitutional.” Pigeons must be trained to fly 
long distances ; they are taken at first a few miles away 
from home, and the distance is gradually increased. The' 
traveller journeying outside Birmingham may have been) 
surprised to see a rough-looking fellow walking before him, 
suddenly stop, open a little bag or basket, and start out a 
pigeon, that will, after mounting high in the air, and 
circling round a time or two, go off at a tremendous pace 
towards “home, sweet home.” This bird is most probably 
in training for a match. Matches are mostly of publio- 
hduse growth. Arguments culminate in a match after the 
fourth pint. The “ Cuckoo and Throstle ” is a good house to 
see this sort of thing. You notice a certain bulging appear- 
ance in the pockets of some of the company, and presently 
pigeons of ancient and honorable descent are produced there- 
from. The breed of birds is recognized by gifted fanciers. 
“ One of the old Walsall one-eyed cocks, eh, Peter?” “ Yes f 
no mistakin’ them, Jim!” Matches being made and pre- 
liminaries, such as the amount of stake, choice of referee, 
&c., settled, the company disperse. An ambassador carries 
the pigeons to the starting-place on the day appointed. You 
may see him escorted to the train by anxious “backers,” 
and laden with bags, baskets, and instructions. At a given 
time he turns the birds up. The owners sit at home wait- 
ing their arrival, catch them as soon as possible, and run 
with great agility to the public house where the wager was 
made, to show the bird, then his time is taken. The usual 
stakes are “ quids,” or humble “ dollars.” For great events 
the services of a professional pedestrian are engaged, and 
quiet citizens are startled by the sight of a gentleman in 
scant apparel, scouring along at a splitting pace, with a 
pigeon in a neat print bag, firmly held between his teeth. 
So much for the pigeon fanciers. We frankly confess we 
prefer these amiable birds when properly interred in a pie- 
dish, with their toes sticking elegantly through the crust, 
and their succulent bodies resting on a rich stratum of beef- 
steak. 
The rabbit fancier is a very mild and inoffensive being. 
His pets do not take him so much to the public house. Great 
is he in the matter of lops, and the poor animals have their 
long drooping ears pulled out at show time, to make them 
measure well, until the blood almost starts from the roots. 
Surely any lady would allow her husband to keep a rabbit 
or two, though she might object to dogs or pigeons. 
The admirers of singing birds are a very numerous body. 
There was a great deal of canary fancying in Birmingham, 
but we learned the other night, on calling at some taverns 
where the brethren assembled in days of yore, that times 
were changed, and this trade is not what it was. So the 
canary men go to “cages,” and judge of Belgians and their 
song at their own homes. There will always be a good bus- 
iness done in larks, finches, and throstles ; and at the “ pub ” 
used by the bird fancier you may give half a sovereign for 
a woodlark, or for an all-accomplished finch, a very Sims 
Beeves of the feathered tribe, who, having been hung 
among the larks, has acquired a capital idea of their melo- 
dious note. Bullfinches are high in price, especially the 
genuine German “piping” bird. Parrots are always mar- 
(To be continued.) 
