OF THE DOMESTIC PIGEON. 245 



a small basin, to which it serves as a reservoir. Any 

 bottle will do, but the pigeons are apt to alight on and 

 dirty such as, when reversed, present a flat top. 



" Pigeons being fond of salt, what is called a pigeon- 

 cat is placed in the midst of the pigeon-house, or in 

 the open air near it. It seems these birds are fond of 

 salt and hot substances, and constantly swallow small 

 stones to promote digestion. The salt-cat is thus com- 

 posed ; gravel or drift-sand, unctuous loam, the rubbish 

 of an old wall, or lime, a gallon of each ; should lime 

 be substituted for rubbish, a less quantity of the for- 

 mer will suffice ; one pound of cummin-seed, one hand- 

 ful of bay-salt ; mix with stale urine. Inclose this in 

 jars, corked or stopped, holes being punched in the 

 sides, to admit the beaks of the pigeons. These may 

 be placed abroad. They are very fond of this mix- 

 ture, and it prevents them from pecking the mortar 

 from the roofs of their houses, which they are other- 

 wise very apt to do. 



" Cleanliness is one of the first and most important 

 considerations : the want of it in a dovecote, will soon 

 render the place a nuisance not to be approached, and 

 the birds, both young and old, will be so covered with 

 vermin, and besmeared with their own excrement, that 



they can enjoy no health or comfort, and mortality is 



c 



