Excerpt from The Pigeon Book It will not be possible in a work Of this description to give descriptive matter of any great length relative to the different varieties, but they will be briefly dealt with in order that a beginner taking an interest in the breeding of pigeons may know the main points of distinction between them, likewise their points Of excellence and the most difficult features connected with their breeding. In this matter, as no man is a thorough master breeder of all the varieties, I have called to my aid several of the best-known breeders, who have been good enough to deal with some of the varieties as specialists Of these varieties. I have to thank them for the help rendered me in the compila tion of this book, adding so much to its interest. Darwin expresses the Opinion that all the varieties Of pigeons that have been domesticated trace their origin to the Blue Rock Dove (columbia Livia), and to establish this fact mentions that if any domesticated variety Of the pigeon family is allowed to run to seed without the careful selection of the fancier, distinct features of Columbia Livia are reproduced in them. In a small handbook of this description, it will not be found possible to trace the different varieties to their source, or to deal at any considerable length with the crossings that have been used by fanciers to improve or modify a variety. All manner of breeds have been used by the skilled fancier for this purpose, so cleverly in some cases as to leave little or no trace of their use, but I am convinced that there is hardly a variety in existence to-day in which a cross of some other variety has not been used to beautify it - it may be in colour, shape, or marking. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.