Pigeons and Doves. 29 



edge, through which to pass the string to tie them to the 

 branches. You need two nests to each pair of birds, as if you 

 put up one only the young ones may be turned out before the 

 proper time if the old birds desire to nest again. It may be 

 urged the second nest only tempts them to start afresh, but I 

 look on it as the lesser evi'l. 



Plenty of dried heather should be scattered on the floor. 

 If you have none growing near you it can be bought by the 

 bundle from Mr. Fred Hiscock, Blashford, Hants. I get some 

 from him every year and know of no better or more cleanly 

 nesting material, and it may even be soaked and washed and 

 used a second lime. I also put a small handful in each nest to 

 start the birds. The heather should be broken into lengths 

 about five inches long, and after the birds have picked up what 

 they want from the floor, aud the eggs are laid, the remaining 

 heather should be taken away or they may still go on piling it on 

 the top of the eggs. 



Sometimes the birds will not care for your site of a nest, 

 but will choose their own, squatting — not perching — in the par- 

 ticular branch. When you notice this it is as well to put a nest 

 pan up in the exact spot, when the birds will probably start at 

 once; doves are very peculiar in their little ways and cannot be 

 forced. 



I make it a rule always to fasten up my nest pans in the 

 cover under the glass roof or shelter — not in the open flight, for 

 it is most essential that whilst the young are in the nest, and 

 especially when too large to be brooded continually — they are 

 kept dry. Be sure and put a thick bed of hay or straw under the 

 nest when the young are hatched, so as to make their first descent 

 easier or to soften their fall should they tumble out prematurely.. 

 Sometimes you may find a partly-fledged dove on the floor, with 

 no broken limbs, — the hay has saved that — but in a state of 

 collapse and cold and limp, its legs stretched, and head dangling 

 down, perishing for want of its parents' warmth. It is always 

 worth while to hold the helpless little thing in your hand for say 

 half-an-hour or more. If there is just a spark of life left the live 

 warmth of your hand will bring it round more quickly than any- 

 thing. It is wonderful how far gone a bird may be and yet 



