63 DISEASES. 



by blowing up the feathers about the vent. A little mercurial 

 ointment rubbed about that part and under the wings will 

 kill all that come in contact with it. Ticks, I think with Mr. 

 Brent, proceed from a flat fly that may be sometimes seen 

 running over young pigeons, and hiding among their feathers. 

 This fly, which is difficult to catch, and difficult to kill when 

 caught, for it is so tough that it can scarcely be squeezed to 

 death between the finger and thumb, is not often seen. Ticks 

 are the largest of the insects that infest pigeon houses, and 

 are fortunately, at least in my experience, not very common. 

 I have never been much troubled with mites, but have known 

 others who were, in such countless thousands, that during 

 a whole breeding season every successive nest of young 

 ones was covered with them, causing the death of many. I 

 suppose they are the same sort of vermin that trouble canary 

 breeders. Fleas are the commonest kind of pests that 

 infest pigeon houses, but they and all other insects may now 

 be easily kept down by the use of the insecticide known as 

 Dalmatian Insect Powder, which has lately come into universal 

 use. It should be dusted over the nests occasionally, and it 

 is the best friend of the pigeon fancier. Since I began using 

 it, my pigeon houses have been quite free of fleas and other 

 parasites. 



Leg Weakness. 



This is a complaint which generally attacks young pouter 

 pigeons early or late in the season. A bird will, apparently, 

 be going on well, and be nearly ready to quit the nest, when 

 it will be observed to be unable to get on its legs. I have 

 seldom known a bird so affected cured. Those that give 

 promise of being extra long in limb and upstanding in 

 carriage are most liable to it. Such weakness in the limbs, 

 proceeding from some internal cause, must not, however, be 

 mistaken for a fracture or sprain of the limb, an accident 

 which sometimes happens through a bird falling over its 



