Cleanliness, 187 



o •- 



will often depopulate a whole dove-hous 

 cats are yet necessary for the defence of 

 the pigeons against rats and mice, as they 

 will both destroy the birds and suck the 

 eggs ; thence, cats of a known good breed, 

 should be trained up familiarly with the pi- 

 geons. The platform should be painted 

 white, and renewed as the paint wears off, 

 white being a favourite colour with pigeons, 

 and also most conspicuous as a mark to 

 enable them to find their home. The boxes 

 also should be so coloured, and renewed as 

 . necessary, for which purpose, lime and water 

 will be sufficient 



Cleanliness is one of the first and most 

 important considerations : the want of it in 

 a dove-cote will soon render the place a 

 nuisance not to be approached, and the 

 birds, both young and old, will be so co- 

 vered with vermin, and besmeared with 

 their own excrement, that they can enjoy 

 no healih or comfort, and mortality is often 

 so induced. Ours were cleaned daily ; 

 thoroughly, once a week, ^ tub standing at 



