18 PIGEON RAISING 



They were about six months old; two were tor- 

 toise-shell and one black and white. They 

 snuffed about for a while, then, as it was rain- 

 ing, settled themselves comfortably in their 

 house. 



The ground beneath the feeders was honey- 

 combed with rat-holes. Next morning dead 

 rats were lying about the yard, and not a squab 

 was missing, nor did I ever see another rat on 

 the place. 



After a few days I let the cats out during 

 the day to run about as they chose and catch 

 gophers in the alfalfa patch and mice in the 

 barn. At night they cried to go into the pigeon 

 yard. 



My cats became so famous and numerous 

 that with every lot of breeders I sold I threw 

 in a cat. If it was a short journey, I placed the 

 cat in the same box with the pigeons. 



