CHAP. XV.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 313 



cannot be trusted abroad, and for catching 

 them when wanted : for, if you have not the 

 convenience of such a cage, you will find it 

 difficult to catch the squeakers when they 

 begin to fly. The pigeons may thus either 

 enjoy a healthful recreation or retire to their 

 cote at pleasure ; and, as the space can be 

 enclosed with very little cost, some of these 

 "dormers," as they are technically termed, 

 are made of very large dimensions. The 

 larger and the more lofty the cote, the better 

 indeed w^ill the stock prosper, and the finer 

 will be the flavour of the flesh. 



With respect to the Jlesh — that of an old 

 pigeon has been decried as " tough, bitter, 

 and unwholesome," Now, without being an 

 epicure, we deem the flavour of all our food 

 as being well worthy of attention, and, al- 

 though " tastes differ," we yet imagine that 

 no person, according to their palate, is indif- 

 ferent to what they eat. We also readily 

 admit, that any bird, if very old, will be very 

 tough ; but, with reference to the present in- 

 stance, the " bitterness," as it is called, of a 

 full-grown pigeon, we consider as an im- 

 provement of flavour. Although the food 



