THE NOVICE 17 



Like human beings, pigeons must have variety. 

 Besides, white wheat causes dysentery among 

 squabs, and nothing discourages pigeons from 

 breeding so much as seeing their young die. 



One of the hardest things for the pigeon 

 raiser to contend with is rats. The grain at- 

 tracts them; then they get a taste of squab; and 

 then they will kill the old pigeons; and, finally, 

 they will become so bold that they will come out 

 in daytime, in the very presence of the proprte- 

 tor, and kill pigeons and squabs as they sit on 

 the nests. 



They had reached the squab stage with me, 

 to the extent of my losing fifty dollars' worth, 

 when a pigeon fancier happening to come to my 

 place suggested cats, and explained that there 

 was a difference in cats: some cats wouldn't 

 touch rats. He knew of some ratter cats and 

 would send me three young ones females were 

 the best; and I must make them comfortable in 

 the pigeon yard and pay as much attention to 

 feeding them as I did the pigeons fish one 

 day, liver another, cooked meat, soup, milk, and 

 vegetables, if they liked them. 



It was the rainy season, so early next morn- 

 ing I set a man to work building a comfortable 

 cat-house in the pigeon yard one that would 

 not leak. The cats arrived in the afternoon. 



