260 



The Country House 





arranged so that a bed of ashes may be placed under the straw nests. The 

 "house of correction," so called, is located in the most prominent and exposed 

 corner so that its nest-struck occupants may not be lonesome. It is provided 

 with a roost in the sheltered corner, and a drinking jar, as indicated. The floor is 



of boards filled with small wire spikes 

 driven in at intervals of 3 inches apart 

 and projecting 2 inches above the 

 boards. It is at once evident that such 

 a field of trouble, while it cannot harm 

 the prisoners, is at once the most un- 

 comfortable affair to squat on and at 

 the same time, from the spacing of nails, 

 easy of navigation. It may be added, 

 for the benefit of those whose apprehen- 

 sion may be roused, that the head of a 

 wire nail is round and smooth, and, of the 

 size suggested, perfectly harmless to the 

 fowl. Wooden pegs may be substituted. 

 The pole house for pigeons, while 

 not so common in this country as in 

 England, is nevertheless a decorative 

 feature of some merit. It should have 

 a stout pole support and may be reached 

 by a ladder. Its natural construction 

 and location remove it beyond the rc;n h 

 of cats and other animals. It should be 

 located in a sunny spot, protected from 

 the wind, and should have an overhang- 

 ing roof to exclude the weather. The 

 pigeonholes, wherever they may be used, 

 should be 4 inches wide by 6 inches high, and should face a warm and sheltered 

 quarter. Naturally, each hole has its projecting shelf. 



The old-fashioned dove-cote has, thanks to the survival of the fittest, 

 found a new lease of life, and as now used is frequently built with a flying c:im 

 attached. The flooring should be of brick, stone or cement as a safeguard 

 against rodents. The nests must naturally line the walls, and its plan may 

 embody practically two stories, as in the Lawson example. If pigeons are 

 allowed to fly, some device should be used to shut them in if it be desirable. 



The most common form of pigeon house is that which forms a part and a 

 feature of the stable or barn gable. Ordinarily this consists of one large apart- 

 ment in which an unholy war is forever raging, resulting in broken eggs and dead 

 squabs, besides the general spirit of conflict. Each bird, male or female, should 

 have a separate room. These may be connected pairs with separate entrance 

 holes (see Fig. 51) and a common lobby or porch. In this way more peace is 

 had, as well as an increase of squabs. A wooden bowl in the corner of each, 

 filled with hayseed, will serve as a nest, and in this way it is claimed that two broods 





Old dove-cote at " Shirley," James River, Va. 



