64 FANCY PIGEONS. 



nest mate. THis is often curable by a few days of care- 

 ful attention. 



Moulting. 



The majority of pigeons go through their annual moult 

 without any trouble, but generally a few of them will 

 fall into a diarrhoea during that time. When this be- 

 comes specially severe, the growth of the new feathers 

 will sometimes suddenly stop. If the bird so affected re- 

 covers, the growth of its feathers will proceed, but many of 

 the birds will be weak and unfurnished about the middle, 

 showing where their growth was arrested ; and instead of 

 the feathers lying close to the bird's body, they will hang 

 loosely, and flutter about with the wind. 1 have seen several 

 cases of this, but it cannot be said to happen very often. 

 Of course, the bird so affected cannot get into proper 

 feather before another moult. When a pigeon casts its 

 feathers in masses, as many do, so as to be quite bare on 

 head and neck, it should get extra protection from cold and 

 draught till the new feathers are well grown. 



Small Pox. 



Small Pox was well known to the old writers from their 

 description of it, but I have never known a case of it in 

 this country. In India, however, it is a common complaint of 

 young pigeons in the nest, and I have known seasons there 

 when every young bird bred by myself and others, to the 

 number of hundreds, has been attacked with it. At about 

 a fortnight old, pustules full of yellow matter would break 

 out all over the bird, including its beak and feet. If let 

 alone these would gradually dry up, and by the time the 

 bird was able to fly, it would be nearly clear of them; but 

 if broken they would bleed, and grow into big sores. I think 

 this form of small pox is quite imknown in this country 

 now : at least, I never heard any fancier say he had found it 

 in his loft. 



