The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-12-23
FANCY PIGEONS.
Something About Their Char
acter and Value.
Costly Because The Varieties are Scarce and
Beautiful.

Beautiful.
"Please tell me something about pig
eons," said New York Tribune repor-
ter the other day to one of the most ex-
tensive dealers in those birds in the
city.
''The varieties you sec here are limited
he said, "as keep only stock that is
fancy in the strictest sense and there
fore dear. Here are Jacobins, so called,
! presume, from the peculiar shape of
their head feather, which resembles the
phryGian cap; they are very beautiful
birds and with the barbs, pouters and
carriers bring high prices. lhave known
a pair of barbs to bring $500,
and / myself have sold oae for
$40. They are dear because they are
scarce and they are beautiful, the two
things that give value to diamonds and
very pretty women. Pouters are also
very rare birds; they do not breed as fast
as the ordinary pigeon, and are therefore
in demand. Carriers are valuable be-
cause they are useful, and it is to me a
matter of surprise that they arc not
utilized in this country more than they
are. They are now raised and kept for
the amusement of connoisscurs and yet
the time may come when it will be q
matter of regret that the birds have
been neglected"
GLOW do you make that outl"
"Well, you know they are useful in
war for carrying dispatches when all
other means of communication are in
possession of the enemy. They were used
by the confederates in the civil war, and
extensively in France in the Franco
German war. Now the newspapers say
our Navy is not worth much and our
coast is comparatively defcnceless. 1t
this is true, what is to prevent British
or even Turkish fleet taking possession
of New York, Philadelphia and Baiti
more and tho force accompanying
them breaking up or possessing
the railroad and telegraph lines
centering in these cities? Answer me
that"
'True, but what kind of q bird is
this, the white and brownN
"That is tumblcr These birds also
bring high prices. They love to fly high
into the air. until they are almost lost
to sight, and then, turning somcrsaut
after somersault, descend with great
rapidly until they almost touch the
ground"
"Why do they do that?"
81 really can't say. Pigeons arc not
communicative as a rule but I presume
it amuses them. There are different
sorts oil tunbcrs. Some make mighty
efforts to perform Il somersault, but can
not accomplish it; they can only go half
way, which is termed FALL and again
others of them can do three quarters
which is tipping the head and
tall That pretty mill1-white bird
is nun, so called from her
fcathcry hood, and he with the big craw
is a poutcr Poutcrs grow to large
size. Oh, yes; pigeons breed very fast,
almost as fast as rabbits, and if it were
not for the fact that they have so many
enemies would soon become a nuisance.
The common run have young ones once
every two months, and it is not unusual
to sec a pair feeding their 'squealers'
while breaking their shell to assist q
later progeny into this wicked world. |
should say there are hundreds Of thou
sands of them in New York, chiefly
owned by Germans, who are great raisers
and importers of pigeons anl canarics.
What we call fancy birds, however are
not COOL breeders; if they were they
would be no longer fancy. OF course
large numbers of pigeons are eaten.
Most people like pigeon pic, and there
are eplcures among Us who consume
large numbers of pigeons eggs, raw and
cooked. The ladies say they are good
for the complexion. Owing to this and
the causes already statcl-sccing that
the average pigeon lives eight years
the birds do not incrcas, rs rapiply as
they otherwise would ii left undis
turbed."