The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-08-24
Golden Pigeons.

hlm; he had seen everything and knew
everything, and was anxious to get q
chance of exposing this weak point to
him. A fit occasion soon presented it
self. One day while engaged in my Of
flce at the museum man with marked
Teutonic features and accent approach
ed the door and asked if would like
to buy pair of living golden pigeons.
Yes" replied, 'Iwould like flock
OF golden pigeons, if l could lay them
for their weight in silver; for there are
ne golden pigeons in existence, unless
1hey are made from pure metal
You shall see some golden pigeons
alive" he replied, at the same time ent-
ering ICY office and closing the door af-
ter him. he then removed the lid from
a small basket which he carried in his
baud. and, sure enough, there were
snugly ensconced pair of beautiful liv-
ing luff-necked pigeons, as yellow as
saffron and as bright as q double eagle
fresh from the mint.
confess Twas somewhat staggered at
this sight, and quickly ask ed the man
where those birds came from.
what do you think yourself?''
Il think it is humbug"
''Of course, l know you will say so, so
l shall not try to humbug-I have color
ed them myself
On further inquiry learned that this
German was a chemist, and that he pos
seSsed the art of coloring birds any hue
desired, and yet retain natural gloss
on the feathers.
Il can paint blue pigeon or a black
pigeon brown pigeon or a pigeon half
blue or half green" said the German;
land if you prefer it, 1 can paint them
pink or purple, or give you a little of
each color, and make you rainbow
pigeon"
The rainbow pigeon" did not strike
me as particularly desirable; but think
ing here was good chance to catch
Grizzly Adams, bought pair of gold
en- pigeons for ten dollars and sent them
up to the "Happv Family'-where 1
knew Adams would soon see them
marked Golden Pigeons from Califor-
MIA" Mr.. Taylor the great pacifactor,
who had charge of the Happy Family,
soon came down in state of excite
ment.
Really, Mr.. Barnum," said he, 81
could not think of putting those elegant
golden pigeons in the Happy Family,
they are too valuable bird, and they
might get injured"
"Wel," said l, you may put them
in separate cage, properly labeled"
Mons. Guillandeu, the naturalist and
taxiderrnist of the museum, when he
saw the golden pigeons from Califor-
mia, was considerably astonished. He
soon came to my office and said:
fSMr RerpI1ro fhncn rrnl1on y1,o
are superb, but they cannot be from
California. Audubon mentioned no such
bird in his work upon American Ornith-
ology."
told him he had better take Audu-
bon home with him that night, and
perhaps by studying him attentively he
would see occasion to change his mind.
The next day the old naturalist called
at my office and remarked:
"Mr. Barnum, those pigeons are a
more rare bird than you imagine. They
are not mentioned by Linneus, Cuvier,
Goldsmith or any other writer on natur-
al history, SO far as have been able to
discover. I expect they must have
come from some unexplored portion of
Australia"
''Never mind" replied ''we may
get more light on the subject, perhaps,
before long. We will continue to label
them California pigeons until we can
fix their nativity elsewhere. -
The next morning "Old Grizzly Ad-
ans" passed through the museum, when
his eyes fell on the Golden California
Pigeons"
He looked moment and, doubtless,
admired. He soon after came to my Of
fee.
'Mr. Barnum said he, '.you must let
me have those California pigeons"
81 can't spare them," replied.
"But you must spare them. All the
birds and animals from California ought
to be together. You own half of my
California menagerie, and you must
lend me those pigeons"
''Mr. Adams. they are too rare and
valuable bird to be hawked about in
that manner"
ooh, don't be fool.' replied Adams
''Rare bird indeed! Why they are just
as common in California as any other
pigeon! could have brought hundred
of them with me from San Francisco, if
had thought of it,
''But why did you not think of it?''
asked with suppressed smile.
Because they are SO common there"
said Adams. II did not think they
would be any curiosity here. / have
had them in pigeon pies hundreds of
times, and have Shot them by the thou
sandr'
"Oh, well, Mr.. Adams, if they are re-
ally SO common in California you had
better probably take them, and you may
write over and have half dozen pairs
sent to me from the museum"
''All right," said Adams, II will send
over to friend in San Francisco and
you shall have them here in couple of
months"
told Adams that for certain reasons
would prefer to have him change the
label SO as to have it read, Golden
Pigeons from Australia
''Well, win call them what you like"
said Adams; II suppose they are as
plenty in Australia as they are in Cali
fornia.'
Six Or eight weeks after this incident
was in The California Menagerie, and
noticed that the Golden Pigeons" had
assumed frightfully mottled appear
ance. called him up to the pigeon
cage and remarked:
''Mr. Adams, | fear that you will lose
your Golden Pigeonsj they must be very
sick; ! observe they are turning quite
pale"
Adams looked a+-'
astnn;-, ~'shem moment with
-.snment, then turning to me and
seeing that could not suppress smile,
ne Indignantly exclaimed:
Blast the Golden Pigeons! You had
peter take them back to the Museum.
You can't humbug me with your paint
cd pigeons"
This was too much, and 1 laughed till
] cried TO witness the mixed look of as
tonishment and vexation which mark
ed the grizzly features of old Adams
By p. T. BaruuDa.
The Calais (Me) Times says that
the Holsters of the st. Croix have de-
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