鴿類甚繁，晉有坤星，魯有鶴秀，黔有腋蜨，梁有翻跳，越有諸尖：皆異種也。又有靴頭、點子、大白、黑石、夫婦雀、花狗眼之類，名不可屈以指，惟好事者能辨之也。鄒平張公子幼量，癖好之，按經而求，務盡其種。其養之也，如保嬰兒：冷則療以粉草，熱則投以鹽顆。鴿善睡，睡太甚，有病麻痹而死者。張在廣陵，以十金購一鴿，體最小，善走，置地上，盤旋無已時，不至於死不休也，故常須人把握之；夜置群中，使驚諸鴿，可以免痹股之病：是名「夜遊」。齊魯養鴿家，無如公子最；公子亦以鴿自詡。一夜，坐齋中，忽一白衣少年叩扉入，殊不相識。問之。答曰：「漂泊之人，姓名何足道。遙聞畜鴿最盛，此亦生平所好，願得寓目。」張乃盡出所有，五色俱備，燦若雲錦。少年笑曰：「人言果不虛，公子可謂盡養鴿之能事矣。僕亦攜有一兩頭，頗願觀之否？」張喜，從少年去。月色冥漠，野壙蕭條，心竊疑懼。少年指曰：「請勉行，寓屋不遠矣。」又數武，見一道院，僅兩楹。少年握手入，昧無燈火。少年立庭中，口中作鴿鳴。忽有兩鴿出：狀類常鴿，而毛純白；飛與簷齊，且鳴且鬥，每一撲，必作觔斗。少年揮之以肱，連翼而去。復撮口作異聲，又有兩鴿出：大者如鶩，小者裁如拳；集階上，學鶴舞。大者延頸立，張翼作屏，宛轉鳴跳，若引之；小者上下飛鳴，時集其頂，翼翩翩如燕子落蒲葉上，聲細碎，類鼗鼓；大者伸頸不敢動。鳴愈急，聲變如磬，兩兩相和，間雜中節。既而小者飛起，大者又顛倒引呼之。張嘉歎不已，自覺望洋可愧。遂揖少年，乞求分愛；少年不許。又固求之。少年乃叱鴿去，仍作前聲，招二白鴿來，以手把之，曰：「如不嫌憎，以此塞責。」接而玩之：睛映月作琥珀色，兩目通透，若無隔閡，中黑珠圓於椒粒；啟其翼，脅肉晶瑩，臟腑可數。張甚奇之，而意猶未足，詭求不已。少年曰：「尚有兩種未獻，今不敢復請觀矣。」方競論間，家人燎麻炬入尋主人。回視少年，化白鴿，大如雞，沖霄而去。又目前院宇都渺，蓋一小墓，樹二柏焉。與家人抱鴿，駭歎而歸。試使飛，馴異如初。雖非其尤，人世亦絕少矣。於是愛惜臻至。積二年，育雌雄各三。雖戚好求之，不得也。有父執某公，為貴官。一日，見公子，問：「畜鴿幾許？」公子唯唯以退。疑某意愛好之也，思所以報而割愛良難。又念：長者之求，不可重拂。且不敢以常鴿應，選二白鴿，籠送之，自以千金之贈不啻也。他日，見某公，頗有德色；而其殊無一申謝語。心不能忍，問：「前禽佳否？」答云：「亦肥美。」張驚曰：「烹之乎？」曰：「然。」張大驚曰：「此非常鴿，乃俗所言『靼韃』者也！」某回思曰：「味亦殊無異處。」張歎恨而返。至夜，夢白衣少年至，責之曰：「我以君能愛之，故遂託以子孫。何乃以明珠暗投，致殘鼎鑊！今率兒輩去矣。」言已，化為鴿，所養白鴿皆從之，飛鳴逕去。天明視之，果俱亡矣。心甚恨之，遂以所畜，分贈知交，數日而盡。
鴿子的種類非常多，晉地有坤星，魯地有鶴秀，黔地有腋蜨，梁地有翻跳，越地有諸尖，都是珍異的品種。還有靴頭、點子、大白、黑石、夫婦雀、花狗眼等，名字多得掰著手指也數不完，只有愛好養鴿的人才能辨認。鄒平的張公子幼量特別痴迷養鴿，按照養鴿的書搜尋，一心要把所有品種都收集齊全。他照料鴿子，就像照料嬰兒：受寒了，就用粉草治療；發熱了，就喂些鹽粒。鴿子愛睡覺，睡得太多，有的會得麻痺病而死。張公子在廣陵花十兩銀子買了一隻鴿子，身體特別小，善於奔走。把它放在地上，它就不停地轉圈，不走到死絕不罷休，所以常常需要有人把它握在手裡。夜裡把它放進鴿群，讓它驚動其他鴿子，可以避免鴿子患上腿部麻痺的病。這種鴿子叫「夜遊」。齊魯一帶養鴿的人，沒有誰比得上張公子，張公子也以自己的鴿子為傲。一天夜裡，他坐在書房中，忽然有個穿白衣的少年敲門進來，他從來沒有見過。張公子問他的姓名，少年回答：「我是個四處漂泊的人，姓名有什麼值得說的。我在遠處聽說你養的鴿子最多最好，這也是我一向的愛好，希望能看一看。」張公子便把自己所有的鴿子都拿出來，五顏六色，燦爛得像雲錦。少年笑著說：「人們果然沒有說假話，公子在養鴿這件事上，可以說已經把本領發揮到極致了。我也帶著一兩隻，你願不願意看看？」張公子很高興，跟著少年走了。月色昏暗，曠野冷清荒涼，他心裡暗暗生出疑懼。少年指著前面說：「請再往前走一走，我住的地方不遠了。」又走了幾步，看見一座只有兩間屋子的道院。少年拉著他的手進去，裡面黑漆漆的，沒有燈火。少年站在院子裡，嘴裡學著鴿子叫。忽然有兩隻鴿子飛出來，模樣像普通鴿子，羽毛卻是純白的。它們飛到屋簷那麼高，一邊叫，一邊爭鬥，每次撲向對方，都要翻個筋斗。少年揮動胳膊，它們便翅膀挨著翅膀飛走了。少年又撮起嘴，發出另一種聲音，又有兩隻鴿子出來，大的像鴨子，小的只有拳頭那麼大。它們落在臺階上，像鶴一樣跳起舞來。大鴿子伸長脖子站著，張開翅膀，像豎起一道屏風，一邊轉動身體，一邊叫著蹦跳，像是在引逗小鴿子。小鴿子上下飛鳴，不時落在大鴿子的頭頂，翅膀輕輕扇動，像燕子落在蒲葉上，叫聲細碎，像鼗鼓的聲音。大鴿子伸著脖子，一動也不敢動。叫聲越來越急，又變得像敲磬，兩隻鴿子彼此應和，聲音交錯，合著節拍。不久，小鴿子飛起來，大鴿子又翻轉身體，叫著引逗它。張公子讚歎不已，這才覺得自己見識淺薄，十分慚愧。他向少年作揖，請求分幾隻鴿子給他，少年不答應。他又一再懇求。少年便喝退那兩隻鴿子，仍發出先前的聲音，把兩隻白鴿喚來，用手握著，說：「你要是不嫌棄，就拿這兩隻應付你的請求吧。」張公子接過來仔細觀賞：鴿子的眼睛映著月光，呈現琥珀色，兩眼透亮，彷彿中間沒有東西阻隔，黑色的瞳仁比花椒粒還圓。展開它們的翅膀，脅部的肉晶瑩透亮，連裡面的臟腑都能數清。張公子覺得非常奇異，心裡卻還不滿足，換著說法不斷求取。少年說：「還有兩種沒有給你看，如今我可不敢再請你看了。」兩人正在爭論，家人舉著麻稈火把進來尋找主人。張公子回頭看少年，只見他變成了一隻像雞那麼大的白鴿，直衝天空，飛走了。眼前的院落房屋也全都消失，原來這裡只是一座小墳，種著兩棵柏樹。張公子抱著鴿子，和家人又驚又嘆地回了家。他試著讓鴿子飛翔，它們仍像先前一樣馴順奇異。雖然不是少年那些鴿子中最出色的，人間卻也極少見到。於是，他對它們愛惜到了極點。兩年間，它們生出了三隻雌鴿、三隻雄鴿。即使親友來求，他也不給。他父親有個朋友某公，做著高官。一天，某公見到張公子，問：「你養了多少鴿子？」張公子連聲應著，退了下去。他猜想某公有意想要鴿子，考慮怎樣滿足他的心願，卻實在捨不得割愛。又想到長輩有所求，不能太違揹他的意思，也不敢拿普通鴿子應付，便挑出兩隻白鴿，裝在籠子裡送去，自以為這份禮物不亞於千金之贈。過些日子，他見到某公，臉上頗有施了恩惠的神色，某公卻連一句感謝的話也沒有。他心裡忍不住，問：「前些日子送去的鴿子好嗎？」某公回答：「倒是肥嫩好吃。」張公子吃驚地說：「你把它們煮了？」某公說：「是啊。」張公子大驚，說：「這不是普通鴿子，是人們俗稱的『靼韃』啊！」某公回想了一下，說：「味道也沒有什麼特別的。」張公子嘆息著，滿懷懊恨地回去了。到了夜裡，他夢見白衣少年來到，責備他說：「我以為你能愛惜它們，所以才把子孫託付給你。你怎麼把明珠投進黑暗裡，讓它們在鍋裡慘遭殺害！如今我要帶孩子們走了。」說完，少年變成鴿子，張公子養的白鴿全都跟著他，一邊叫，一邊徑直飛走。天亮後去看，果然一隻也不剩了。張公子心裡非常懊悔，便把所養的鴿子分送給相熟的朋友，幾天就送完了。
鸽类甚繁，晋有坤星，鲁有鹤秀，黔有腋蜨，梁有翻跳，越有诸尖：皆异种也。又有靴头、点子、大白、黑石、夫妇雀、花狗眼之类，名不可屈以指，惟好事者能辨之也。邹平张公子幼量，癖好之，按经而求，务尽其种。其养之也，如保婴儿：冷则疗以粉草，热则投以盐颗。鸽善睡，睡太甚，有病麻痹而死者。张在广陵，以十金购一鸽，体最小，善走，置地上，盘旋无已时，不至于死不休也，故常须人把握之；夜置群中，使惊诸鸽，可以免痹股之病：是名「夜游」。齐鲁养鸽家，无如公子最；公子亦以鸽自诩。一夜，坐斋中，忽一白衣少年叩扉入，殊不相识。问之。答曰：「漂泊之人，姓名何足道。遥闻畜鸽最盛，此亦生平所好，愿得寓目。」张乃尽出所有，五色俱备，灿若云锦。少年笑曰：「人言果不虚，公子可谓尽养鸽之能事矣。仆亦携有一两头，颇愿观之否？」张喜，从少年去。月色冥漠，野圹萧条，心窃疑惧。少年指曰：「请勉行，寓屋不远矣。」又数武，见一道院，仅两楹。少年握手入，昧无灯火。少年立庭中，口中作鸽鸣。忽有两鸽出：状类常鸽，而毛纯白；飞与檐齐，且鸣且斗，每一扑，必作觔斗。少年挥之以肱，连翼而去。复撮口作异声，又有两鸽出：大者如鹜，小者裁如拳；集阶上，学鹤舞。大者延颈立，张翼作屏，宛转鸣跳，若引之；小者上下飞鸣，时集其顶，翼翩翩如燕子落蒲叶上，声细碎，类鼗鼓；大者伸颈不敢动。鸣愈急，声变如磬，两两相和，间杂中节。既而小者飞起，大者又颠倒引呼之。张嘉叹不已，自觉望洋可愧。遂揖少年，乞求分爱；少年不许。又固求之。少年乃叱鸽去，仍作前声，招二白鸽来，以手把之，曰：「如不嫌憎，以此塞责。」接而玩之：睛映月作琥珀色，两目通透，若无隔阂，中黑珠圆于椒粒；启其翼，胁肉晶莹，脏腑可数。张甚奇之，而意犹未足，诡求不已。少年曰：「尚有两种未献，今不敢复请观矣。」方竞论间，家人燎麻炬入寻主人。回视少年，化白鸽，大如鸡，冲霄而去。又目前院宇都渺，盖一小墓，树二柏焉。与家人抱鸽，骇叹而归。试使飞，驯异如初。虽非其尤，人世亦绝少矣。于是爱惜臻至。积二年，育雌雄各三。虽戚好求之，不得也。有父执某公，为贵官。一日，见公子，问：「畜鸽几许？」公子唯唯以退。疑某意爱好之也，思所以报而割爱良难。又念：长者之求，不可重拂。且不敢以常鸽应，选二白鸽，笼送之，自以千金之赠不啻也。他日，见某公，颇有德色；而其殊无一申谢语。心不能忍，问：「前禽佳否？」答云：「亦肥美。」张惊曰：「烹之乎？」曰：「然。」张大惊曰：「此非常鸽，乃俗所言『靼鞑』者也！」某回思曰：「味亦殊无异处。」张叹恨而返。至夜，梦白衣少年至，责之曰：「我以君能爱之，故遂托以子孙。何乃以明珠暗投，致残鼎镬！今率儿辈去矣。」言已，化为鸽，所养白鸽皆从之，飞鸣径去。天明视之，果俱亡矣。心甚恨之，遂以所畜，分赠知交，数日而尽。
鸽子的种类非常多，晋地有坤星，鲁地有鹤秀，黔地有腋蜨，梁地有翻跳，越地有诸尖，都是珍异的品种。还有靴头、点子、大白、黑石、夫妇雀、花狗眼等，名字多得掰着手指也数不完，只有爱好养鸽的人才能辨认。邹平的张公子幼量特别痴迷养鸽，按照养鸽的书搜寻，一心要把所有品种都收集齐全。他照料鸽子，就像照料婴儿：受寒了，就用粉草治疗；发热了，就喂些盐粒。鸽子爱睡觉，睡得太多，有的会得麻痹病而死。张公子在广陵花十两银子买了一只鸽子，身体特别小，善于奔走。把它放在地上，它就不停地转圈，不走到死绝不罢休，所以常常需要有人把它握在手里。夜里把它放进鸽群，让它惊动其他鸽子，可以避免鸽子患上腿部麻痹的病。这种鸽子叫“夜游”。齐鲁一带养鸽的人，没有谁比得上张公子，张公子也以自己的鸽子为傲。一天夜里，他坐在书房中，忽然有个穿白衣的少年敲门进来，他从来没有见过。张公子问他的姓名，少年回答：“我是个四处漂泊的人，姓名有什么值得说的。我在远处听说你养的鸽子最多最好，这也是我一向的爱好，希望能看一看。”张公子便把自己所有的鸽子都拿出来，五颜六色，灿烂得像云锦。少年笑着说：“人们果然没有说假话，公子在养鸽这件事上，可以说已经把本领发挥到极致了。我也带着一两只，你愿不愿意看看？”张公子很高兴，跟着少年走了。月色昏暗，旷野冷清荒凉，他心里暗暗生出疑惧。少年指着前面说：“请再往前走一走，我住的地方不远了。”又走了几步，看见一座只有两间屋子的道院。少年拉着他的手进去，里面黑漆漆的，没有灯火。少年站在院子里，嘴里学着鸽子叫。忽然有两只鸽子飞出来，模样像普通鸽子，羽毛却是纯白的。它们飞到屋檐那么高，一边叫，一边争斗，每次扑向对方，都要翻个筋斗。少年挥动胳膊，它们便翅膀挨着翅膀飞走了。少年又撮起嘴，发出另一种声音，又有两只鸽子出来，大的像鸭子，小的只有拳头那么大。它们落在台阶上，像鹤一样跳起舞来。大鸽子伸长脖子站着，张开翅膀，像竖起一道屏风，一边转动身体，一边叫着蹦跳，像是在引逗小鸽子。小鸽子上下飞鸣，不时落在大鸽子的头顶，翅膀轻轻扇动，像燕子落在蒲叶上，叫声细碎，像鼗鼓的声音。大鸽子伸着脖子，一动也不敢动。叫声越来越急，又变得像敲磬，两只鸽子彼此应和，声音交错，合着节拍。不久，小鸽子飞起来，大鸽子又翻转身体，叫着引逗它。张公子赞叹不已，这才觉得自己见识浅薄，十分惭愧。他向少年作揖，请求分几只鸽子给他，少年不答应。他又一再恳求。少年便喝退那两只鸽子，仍发出先前的声音，把两只白鸽唤来，用手握着，说：“你要是不嫌弃，就拿这两只应付你的请求吧。”张公子接过来仔细观赏：鸽子的眼睛映着月光，呈现琥珀色，两眼透亮，仿佛中间没有东西阻隔，黑色的瞳仁比花椒粒还圆。展开它们的翅膀，胁部的肉晶莹透亮，连里面的脏腑都能数清。张公子觉得非常奇异，心里却还不满足，换着说法不断求取。少年说：“还有两种没有给你看，如今我可不敢再请你看了。”两人正在争论，家人举着麻秆火把进来寻找主人。张公子回头看少年，只见他变成了一只像鸡那么大的白鸽，直冲天空，飞走了。眼前的院落房屋也全都消失，原来这里只是一座小坟，种着两棵柏树。张公子抱着鸽子，和家人又惊又叹地回了家。他试着让鸽子飞翔，它们仍像先前一样驯顺奇异。虽然不是少年那些鸽子中最出色的，人间却也极少见到。于是，他对它们爱惜到了极点。两年间，它们生出了三只雌鸽、三只雄鸽。即使亲友来求，他也不给。他父亲有个朋友某公，做着高官。一天，某公见到张公子，问：“你养了多少鸽子？”张公子连声应着，退了下去。他猜想某公有意想要鸽子，考虑怎样满足他的心愿，却实在舍不得割爱。又想到长辈有所求，不能太违背他的意思，也不敢拿普通鸽子应付，便挑出两只白鸽，装在笼子里送去，自以为这份礼物不亚于千金之赠。过些日子，他见到某公，脸上颇有施了恩惠的神色，某公却连一句感谢的话也没有。他心里忍不住，问：“前些日子送去的鸽子好吗？”某公回答：“倒是肥嫩好吃。”张公子吃惊地说：“你把它们煮了？”某公说：“是啊。”张公子大惊，说：“这不是普通鸽子，是人们俗称的‘靼鞑’啊！”某公回想了一下，说：“味道也没有什么特别的。”张公子叹息着，满怀懊恨地回去了。到了夜里，他梦见白衣少年来到，责备他说：“我以为你能爱惜它们，所以才把子孙托付给你。你怎么把明珠投进黑暗里，让它们在锅里惨遭杀害！如今我要带孩子们走了。”说完，少年变成鸽子，张公子养的白鸽全都跟着他，一边叫，一边径直飞走。天亮后去看，果然一只也不剩了。张公子心里非常懊悔，便把所养的鸽子分送给相熟的朋友，几天就送完了。
There are a great many kinds of pigeon. Jin has the Earth Star, Lu the Crane’s Grace, Qian the Underwing Butterfly, Liang the Tumbler and Yue the Many Points: all rare breeds. Then there are the Boot-Head, the Spot, the Big White, the Black Stone, the Husband-and-Wife Sparrow, the Spotted Dog-Eye and the like. There are more names than you could count on your fingers, and only enthusiasts can tell them apart. Young Master Zhang Youliang of Zouping was mad about pigeons. He sought them out by the book, determined to have every breed there was. He tended them as one tends a baby: when they took cold he dosed them with powdered licorice, and when they took a fever he gave them grains of salt. Pigeons love to sleep, and some sleep so much that they fall sick with a numbness and die. In Guangling Zhang paid ten taels of silver for a pigeon that was very small and a great walker. Set on the ground, it went round and round without end and would not stop until it dropped dead, so someone always had to hold it. Put among the flock at night, it kept the others from sleeping and saved them from the numb-leg sickness. It was called the Night Wanderer. Of all the pigeon fanciers in Shandong, none could match the young master, and he prided himself on his pigeons. One night, as he sat in his study, a young man dressed in white knocked at the door and came in. He was a complete stranger. Zhang asked who he was. “A wanderer,” he answered. “My name isn’t worth mentioning. I heard from afar that you keep the finest pigeons. They have been my love all my life too, and I would like to see them.” So Zhang brought out every bird he had, in all five colours, as bright as cloud-patterned brocade. The young man smiled. “What people say is true. You have done all that can be done in keeping pigeons, sir. I have one or two of my own with me. Would you care to see them?” Zhang was delighted and went with him. The moonlight was dim, the open country bleak and empty, and Zhang began secretly to doubt and fear. The young man pointed. “Please keep on a little. My lodging is not far.” A few steps more and they came to a Daoist chapel of only two rooms. The young man took him by the hand and led him in. It was dark, without lamp or fire. The young man stood in the courtyard and cooed like a pigeon. At once two pigeons came out. They looked like ordinary pigeons, but pure white. They flew up level with the eaves, cooing and fighting, and at every lunge they turned a somersault. The young man waved them off with his arm, and they flew away wing to wing. Then he pursed his lips and made a strange sound, and two more pigeons came out, a big one the size of a duck and a little one no bigger than a fist. They alighted on the steps and danced like cranes. The big one stood with its neck stretched up and its wings spread like a screen, turning, calling and hopping as if to lead the other on. The little one flew up and down, calling, now and then alighting on the big one’s head with its wings fluttering like a swallow landing on a rush leaf. Its voice was thin and broken, like a pellet drum. The big one kept its neck stretched up and did not dare to move. The calls grew quicker and changed to the ring of a chime stone. The two answered each other, the notes weaving in and out and keeping perfect time. Then the little one flew up, and the big one tumbled head over heels, calling it back. Zhang could not stop exclaiming in admiration, and felt as ashamed as one gazing at the ocean. He bowed to the young man and begged him to part with some of his treasures. The young man refused. Zhang pressed him. So the young man shooed the pigeons away, made his first call again and summoned the two white pigeons. He took them in his hands. “If you don’t find them too poor,” he said, “let these do.” Zhang took them and looked them over. In the moonlight their eyes were amber, and so clear that you could see right through from one eye to the other, as if nothing lay between. The black pupils were rounder than peppercorns. When he opened their wings, the flesh over the ribs was so translucent that you could count the organs inside. Zhang marvelled at them, but still he was not satisfied, and kept wheedling for more. “There are two more kinds I have not shown you,” said the young man, “but I would not dare ask you to look now.” While they were still arguing, Zhang’s servants came in with hemp torches, looking for their master. He looked round at the young man: he had become a white pigeon the size of a chicken, and it soared up into the sky and was gone. And the courtyard and buildings before his eyes had all vanished. There was only a small grave with two cypresses planted by it. Holding the pigeons, he went home with his servants, astonished and marvelling. When he tried them in flight, they were as tame and wonderful as before. They were not the best of the young man’s birds, but there were very few like them in the world of men. So he loved and cherished them beyond anything. In two years they had bred three hens and three cocks. Even kinsmen and friends who asked for them got none. There was a certain gentleman, an old friend of his father’s, who was a high official. One day, seeing the young master, he asked, “How many pigeons do you keep?” The young master murmured something and withdrew. He suspected the gentleman wanted some. He thought about how to oblige him, but it was very hard to part with them. Then again, when an elder asks, one cannot flatly refuse. Nor did he dare to make do with ordinary pigeons. He chose two of the white ones and sent them over in a cage, telling himself it was a gift worth no less than a thousand in gold. Some days later he saw the gentleman, and he wore rather the look of a benefactor; but the gentleman said not one word of thanks. Unable to bear it, Zhang asked, “Were the birds I sent any good?” “Quite plump and tasty,” he answered. “You cooked them?” said Zhang, startled. “I did.” Zhang was horrified. “Those were no ordinary pigeons! They were what people call Tartars!” The gentleman thought back. “They didn’t taste any different.” Zhang went home sighing in bitter regret. That night he dreamed that the young man in white came and rebuked him. “I thought you would love them, so I entrusted my offspring to you. How could you cast bright pearls into the dark and leave them to be butchered in a cauldron? Now I am taking my children away.” With that he turned into a pigeon, and all the white pigeons Zhang had raised followed him, crying as they flew straight off. At daybreak Zhang went to look. Sure enough, they were all gone. He was so bitter about it that he gave away all his birds among his friends, and in a few days there were none left.