60 FANCY PIGEONS. 



ing tlie feathers the skin will be found stretched over it like 

 a net. On cutting the skin, the core, which is like a small 

 shelled walnut, will come away easily, if ripe. I have not 

 seen more than eight or ten cases of the core in thousands 

 of pigeons. 



Diarrhoea. 



During the moulting season, some birds will for several 

 weeks be aifected with a more or less severe diarrhoea, 

 and pass nothing but fluid matter. The best remedy for this 

 is a plentiful supply of old lime, and they generally recover 

 as they get through the moult. If a bird so affected loses 

 flesh, a change to a more binding kind of food will be of 

 service. 



Egg Bound. 



During a cold spring, or when matched up too early 

 in the season, many hen pigeons become egg bound, and 

 lose the power of their limbs. Such should be carefully 

 watched, as they are liable to very rough treatment from 

 their mates and other pigeons in the loft. If, when placed 

 on their nests, they do not pass the egg at the time of day 

 it should come, a teaspoonful of treacle will generally do 

 good; but a few drops of sweet oil, passed into the vent with 

 a feather, will also much assist them. Some delicate hens 

 among shortfaced tumblers are constantly affected in this 

 way, and the result in breeding from such is so little as to 

 be not worth the trouble in connection with them. A hen 

 that loses the power of her limbs from laying too early in 

 the season, should be kept apart for a month or six weeks, to 

 enable her to recruit her strength. 



Flesh Wen. 



This was a form of wing disease according to the old 

 writers; but, apart from wens in connection with the joints. 



