320 FAKMING FOR LADIES. [chap. xv. 



and even the migratory sorts which annually 

 quit this country have been marked, and 

 found on their return to inhabit their old nest. 

 Our domestic breeds will, therefore, never 

 desert their cote, unless driven away by want 

 of common attention to its cleanliness'; and 

 when many are kept together, this should be 

 carefully minded; for, if neglected, it will 

 sometimes happen that a squab dies in the 

 nest, and if not speedily removed, the old 

 ones will be unable to endure the filth and 

 stench of their dead offspring. The hen will 

 thus be obliged to leave the eggs on which 

 she may be again sitting, or, perhaps, to quit 

 the cote altogether ; and, in some cases, the 

 whole stock has flown off in search of another 

 residence. 



Pigeons live so much on the wing with pure 

 air and exercise that they are less subject to 

 disease than any of the domestic poultry ; 

 and, if furnished with a little salt-cat, or 

 saltpetre and lime, or mortar, which pro- 

 bably acts as a preventive, there will rarely 

 be any occasion for restoratives ; we there- 

 fore omit all detail of their diseases. 



