The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-04-13
PARTIAL TO PIGEONS.
Persons who Find Dive -Sion
in Training the Birds.
Peouliarities of Pigeons, and Prices Paid
for the Best Varieties.

tor the Best Varieties.
Leading pigeon ~fanciers say that there
is increased interest in the raising of pig
cons, particularly among the ladies, who
care for them ut odd moments at home
and obtain from the sale of the birds con-
siderable pin-moncy. Mr.. Benton Hank
ms, of New Jersey, who is one of the
bcst-known pigeon fancicrs of this coun-
try, and whose loft of nearly 500 birds
includes some of the handsomest and
most valuable in the world, says:
EVERY one of my birds knows me,
and whenever 1 enter the loft they flock
around. Most people havc the idea that
pigeons must be bred in the dark. This
is no the case, for it makes them wild.
All mine are bred in the light, in glass
boXcs painted white, about six by eight
inches in size, and with hay inside for
the nest. A curious fact l have noticed
about pigeons is their loyalty to each
other. Let n pair be once mated and
they will never forsakc one another while
alive. How long do they livc2 Twelve
years, and keep up their full vigor for
that period. We feed them on Canada
peas, wheat, cracked corn and OCCASION
ally n little hempsecd. The weight of a
pigeon varies from three or four ounces
to several pounds. The biggest figure 1
have heard that was paid for a pair of
pigeons in this country was $500. It
was given for a pair of carrier pigeons"
"Will you tell me something about the
different kinds of pigcons?" DR.. McCook,
n noted lover of the bird, was asked.
ANY one having owned pigeons of
any kind will know what is meant by
common pigeons. They arc not of any
distinct breed or color. There are but
very few common pigeons now in which
some traces of the higher classes cannot
be detected. At the same time 1 believe
that were a flock of the so-callcd common
pigeons kept entirely to themselves for a
numbcr of years, color-markings and
other characteristics Of the higher classes
would entirely disappear and the birds
would be more likely to resemble in color
and shape those they originally came
from-the Blue Rocks. Next to n COM
mon pigeon, perhaps the best known, ut
least by name, is the Homing Antwerp,
which is the carrier pigeon, SO called.
1t IS the bird known to make long flights.
The fan-tails arc special favoritcs. The
white ones arc the most common and
easiest to breed, but they arc also to be
had in black, brown, blue, red, and vel
low. The two latter arc rare, and easily
bring from $40 to $50 II pair. Fans,
with fowl feathers, notified or chcckcrcd,
arc mo- Of much value. No breed of
pigeons has so many varieties and sub
varieties rs the tumbler pigeons, nor is
there a vrricty so wcll-known that i, as
yet so little understood by pigeon breed
crs. Many who own them expect them
to perform, whether the birds arc given. a
chance or not. Usually they are kept
with II lot of other birds and are flown
with them. There are also many tum-
blers who do not tumble ut all. All of
the short-faccd varieties arc not supposed
to be performers, although I have seen
some tumble very we'll. Poutcrs are the
first selection of many prominent pigeon
fancicrs, and rarely is this bird entirely
abandoned for other varieties. MI.
Becker, Of Baltimore, who is an cnthusi-
astic breeder of pouters, has at present
probably the best birds Of that variety in
the country. They arc somewhat diff
cult to breed, and good ones always de-
mand high prices. Fifty dollars for a
pair of tirst-class birds would not be ex-
travagant in this country, and in Eng
land perhaps the same birds would bring
twice that amoun and more. I rcmem-
Der that Mr.. Schcll, of Brooklyn, had
one he refused $3.50 for. They can be
had in pure white, black, red, yellow
and Isabclln.-New York. Mail and En-
press.
To Sueaod IN TSPn