BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



ter months. The agriculturist of Norman and 

 much later days, not having these resources, 

 had but one course to pursue. H e fed his flocks 

 and herds through spring and summer upon 

 grass; then, when the grass grew scant in au- 

 tumn, there was a universal slaughter, all save 

 a few breeding animals being killed and salted 

 down for winter food. November in Old 

 German was called Slagtmonat, or slaughter 

 month, the Anglo-Saxon equivalent being 

 Blodmonath or blood-month. On pillars in 

 Carlisle cathedral are seen carvings which dis- 

 play the various occupations of the months. 

 That for December shows a man, a poleaxe, 

 and an ox about to die. 



With this elimination of fresh beef and mut- 

 ton from the winter bill of fare, we understand 

 how welcome would be any smaller creatures 

 which would live through the lean months and 

 yield a never-failing stock of appetising food. 

 Such a place was filled to perfection by the 

 pigeon, a bird needing little space for the ac- 

 commodation of several hundreds; exceed- 

 ingly prolific ; and, moreover, capable of pro- 

 curing its food over a wide range of country 

 34 



