180 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



could be made to voluntarily gape. The 

 porridge should be fairly thick, and if it 

 is then fed with a teaspoon and the little 

 sections moistened with milk, they slither 

 ♦ down the Pigeons' throats most artistically, 

 and no porridge sticks either to the neck 

 of the bird or the fingers of the feeder. 

 The birds held their beds of state at eight 

 in the morning, when the nest had been 

 changed, and then, before the throng of 

 courtiers, each eager to do the feeding, and 

 each firmly impressed with the belief in his 

 or her superior method, the Pigeons received 

 their first meal. The second was about 2 

 or 3 in the afternoon. After feeding was 

 over there was the further interest of 

 watching the process of "churning," as we 

 used to call it — the stirring of the crop 

 round and romid, first one way, then the 

 other. After feeding too, often the tail 

 feathers would be agitated for very long 

 with a rapid shivering tremor. As early as 

 their third meal piping and quivering of 

 wings assured us of an eager appetite. 

 Later, bread was added to their simple 

 menu, and sometimes cake, which their 



