—are the well-known domestic birds, of which there are only TWO sorts entitled to attention here, as affording equally nutritious support for the frame, but neither calculated to excite sport in the field, or emulative attraction in their destruction. The two different kinds are distinguished under the denomination of WILD and TAME; the former are bred in COTES and DOVE-HOUSES, (such as are seen at the rustic mansions of the great, and at large farms in open countries;) the latter in less numbers upon a smaller scale, and in receptacles of smaller construction, affixed to out-offices, barns, stables, or upon a pedestal; in either of which situations, they have their provision mostly before them. The WILD or dove-house pigeons, as they are called, breed only once a year generally; though there are many in the same flock who produce a second, or what is termed a harvest or autumn flight. Those called TAME pigeons, who are still more domesticated, have a greater degree of fecundity, and continue to breed a pair every month or five weeks during the year, except the three most severe and dreary months of winter.
For the protection of this species of property against the wanton attacks of the idle and ill-designing, it is enacted, by the 2d of George the Third, c. xxix. That any person who shall shoot at, or by any means kill or take, with a wilful intent to destroy, any PIGEON, he shall, on conviction thereof, by confession, or oath of one witness, before one Justice, forfeit 20s. to the prosecutor; and if not immediately paid, such Justice shall commit him to the house of correction, for any term not exceeding three months, nor less than one, unless the penalty be sooner paid. Persons who are convicted on this Act, shall not be convicted on any former Act; and prosecutions under this must be commenced within TWO MONTHS after the offence was committed.
PIGEON-SHOOTING
—is a sport principally resorted to at that season of the year when guns are laying dormant, and game of every other kind is, by the privilege of Parliament, permitted to enjoy its rest. Pigeon-shooting is a match between two individuals, or any fixed number on each side, and is decided by one, or the other, killing the greatest NUMBER of PIGEONS within an equal number of shots. The match made, and the place agreed on where it is to be decided, the dove-house pigeons are provided in proportion to the parties who stand engaged to shoot; of which there are generally four, five, or six, on each side; and as every individual feels disposed to shoot at least five or six times, less than eight or ten dozen are hardly ever procured for the occasion.
Previous to the commencement of the match, an open spot is fixed on, agreeable to the arbitrators, one appointed by each side; here TWENTY YARDS are measured with accuracy, and both extremities correctly marked. At one end a hole is made in the earth, in which is deposited a small box, about eight inches deep, six inches wide, and a foot long; its surface two inches above the level of the ground, with a sliding-lid running in a groove: to the front of this lid is affixed a string, or small cord, of one or two-and-twenty yards in length, which extended, will reach a little beyond the precise distance of twenty yards, where each of the parties concerned will afterwards stand to shoot. The preliminaries adjusted of having taken the toss, to determine which side is to take the lead, and all parties ready, a PIGEON is lodged in the BOX, and the runner (as he is called) resuming his post, by the side of the person whose turn it is to shoot, he is there ready to pull the STRING annexed to the SLIDER, and give liberty to the bird, the moment he is ordered by the SHOOTER so to do. It is a fixed rule, that the GUN is never to be advanced to the SHOULDER till the bird is upon wing; this is to be decided (as well as every other cause of dispute) by the persons appointed; and every pigeon so shot at, must fall to the ground within ONE HUNDRED YARDS of the BOX, or it is not admitted a BIRD KILLED, but a shot missed. The first person having shot, (hit or miss,) he is succeeded by one of the opposite side; and they continue to shoot in alternate rotation till the match is decided according to the original terms upon which it was made, in respect to the number of pigeons to be shot at by each distinct party, when those who kill the most are declared the winners, and entitled to the stakes made.
PILOT
.—There have been three horses of this name; two of which were excellent racers, and esteemed equal, as plate horses, to any of their time. The first was bred by Sir Charles Bunbury; foaled in 1762; got by Snap, dam by Cade, grand-dam by Crab, out of Lord Portmore's Abigail. The second was bred by Sir H. Harpur; foaled in 1770; got by Dainty Davy, dam by Blanck, grand-dam (Dizzy) by the famous and original Driver. The third was bred by the late Counsellor Lade; foaled in 1782, and got by the above, dam by Marske, grand-dam by Regulus. The two last won a great number of fifty-pound plates annually for several years in succession, and afterwards proved very excellent country stallions.
PLAY or PAY
,—a description of BET so made. Whether the subject of such bet be MAN or HORSE; the object a race, or a boxing match; either party being present at the time and place appointed, ready to perform their part of the engagement previously entered into; the other not appearing, or appearing, and then and there refusing to enter into the contest, upon the event of which the article or bet was originally formed, can lay no claim whatever to the stakes deposited; and the holder stands justified in handing such stakes over to the WINNER, having sufficient evidence in justification on his own part, to prove that it was bona fide a "PLAY or PAY" bet.