NATURE AND HABITS 73 



Newlywed and takes in the situation at a glance, 

 and immediately prepares for war. Little 

 Tumbler nimbly extricates himself from straws 

 and squabs and quickly flies out of the window, 

 the bridegroom in hot pursuit. 



Then up steps Mr. Pouter in all the gallant 

 grandeur of inflated crop to offer sympathy to 

 the bride. Back comes Mr. N. from a fruitless 

 search and finds the officious pouter neatly bal- 

 ancing himself on the bride's threshold while 

 he cooes condolingly. This is too much I The 

 battle royal begins. Down on the floor they 

 tumble where they bat at each other with out- 

 spread wings, the pouter towering high with 

 his superior height and spindling legs. Through 

 the entire length of the loo-foot house heads 

 are poked out from nests piled up high on 

 either side, while the little bride demurely sets 

 to work drawing the stolen straws back through 

 the knot-hole, and the mischievous Mr. Tum- 

 bler creeps back to his squabs. 



If pigeons have a sufficient number of roomy, 

 comfortable nests and are well-fed, they will 

 begin to lay as soon as their squabs get their 

 feathers. They are, however, like human 

 beings and have likes and dislikes. Some 

 prefer to nest in dark, cold corners, or on the 

 floor, while others will breed only if they can 



