New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
FANCY PIGEONS And THEIR VALUE

COSTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARCE AND BEAUTf-
FUL-soNE OF THFIR CHARACTERISTICS.
"Please tell me something about pigeons said q
TRIBUNE reporter the other day to one Of the most
extensive dealers in those birds In the city.
"The varieties you here limited" he said.
"as keep only stock that is fancy In the strctest
sense and therefore Here Jacobins. called
1 presume from the peculiar shape Of their head
feather. which resembles the Phrygi cap. They are
very beautiful birds and with the barbs pouters and
carriers bring high prices. have known pair OF
farbs to bring $780, and myself have sold one Tor
Si4O. They dear because they are scarce ana
they bcautiful. things that give value to
diamonds and very pretty women Pouters are also
tirds: they do not breed fast the ordinary
pigeon. and therefore in demand. Carriers are
valuable because thew are useful and il is TO me a
matter of surprise that they not utilized In this
country more than they They are now raised
for the amusement OF connoiseeurs. and vet
the time may come when it will be matter OF regret
that the birds have been neglected"
"How do you make that out ?"
"Well. yoa know they useful in war for carry
ing dispatches when all other means OF communlca
ton arc in possession Of the enemy. They were used
BY the rebels in the War OF the Rebellion and extern
sivey in France in the Franco German war. Now
the newspapers say our Navy s not worth much and
coast is comparatively defenceless. II thls II
true what is to prevent British or even Turkish
feet taking possession of New-YOrk. Philstephh 'nd
Baltimore and the force accompanying thon break ne
ur or possessing the railroad and telegraph lines
centring in those cites1 Answer me that"
"True. but what kind of bird is this, the white
and brown ?"
"That is n lumber These birds also bring high
nrices They love TO ny high rto the air until they
arr almost lost sight and then. turning Somersauit
after somersault. descend with great rapidly until
they almost touch the ground"
"Why do they do that y"
az really can't say. Pigeons are not communica-
tive a. a rule hut presume IL amuses them mere
are different sorts OF tumblers. Some make mighty
efforts 10 perform sOmersaut. but cannot accomplish
H. thew can only co half way. which is termed a
fan and aga Others Of them do three quarters
which tipping the head and tall II you cross
an accomplished tumbler with one that can only DO
fall the result Will be a mean. but you can cross a
fan pigeon with a bead and tail pigeon for a
century without producing perfect lumber. mat
pretty milk VIII te bird il nun. so called from her
feathery hood and he with the big craw IL pouter
Pouters to a large size. Oh yes pigeons oreen
very fast almost fast rabbits. and If 1t we're not
for the fact that they have many enemies would
Don become a nuisance. The common run have young
ones once every months and II IL not unusual 10
q pair feeding their sQueaers while orea'Hng
the she'll TO assist later progeny into this wicked
world I should say there are hundreds OF thousands
Of them In New York. chiefly owned by Germans,
who are great rasers and importers Of pigeons and
canares What we call fancy binds, however are not
good breeders il they we're they would be no longer
'ancy OF course numbers of pigeons are eaten
Most people like q pigeon pie. and there are eplcurcs
among who consume large numbers Oh pigeons
eggs "a and cooked. The ladies say they are good
for the complexion Owing to this and the causes
already stated-seeinG that the average pigeon lives
eight years-the birds do not increase "a rapidly as
hey otherwise would If left undisturbed see
This Il a runt and Is even bigger than pouter Inc
species IL very scarce and sells well. Indeed. II Is
only bought by fanciers, among whom there Is con-
tnuOus trading"