PIGEONS. 335 



saltpetre, to be mixed with as much brine as will make it stiff; place 

 this in anything where the birds can get at it easily. 



As mating or coupling pigeons is occasionally attended with diffi- 

 culty, it is a good plan to build two cotes close together, having a 

 lath partition between them, so arranged that the birds may see each 

 other and feed out of the same little vessels, and by giving them 

 plenty of hemp-seed they will soon be fit for mating. When you 

 observe that the hen sweeps her tail, you may put her in the cock's 

 pen, and they will readily agree. Where it is not convenient to 

 make this probationary pen, and you are obliged to place them both 

 in one coop, put the cock in a few days before his mate, that he may 

 get accustomed to and feel himself master of it, especially if the hen 

 is high-spirited, else they will quarrel so fiercely that their disputes 

 will terminate in a total dislike of each other. When the pigeons 

 are comfortably matched, they may either be allowed the full run ot 

 the loft, to select a nest for themselves, or fixed to one in particular, 

 by enclosing them in it for several days, by means of a slight lath 

 railing, giving them an abundant supply of food and water during 

 their imprisonment. Birds like to select their own partners. 



DISEASES. 



The MEGRIMS is an incurable disorder, in which the pigeon moves 

 about and flutters at random, with its head turned in such a manner 

 that its bill rests upon its back. 



If the birds suffer much while MOULTING, the best remedies which 

 can be adopted are to keep them in a warm place, put plenty of 

 hemp- seed in their ordinary food, and likewise saffron in their 

 water. 



When the birds are affected with the WET ROUP, give them a few 

 pepper-corns once in three or four days, and put a handful of green 

 rue in their water. 



The DRY ROUP is a kind of dry, husky cough : it arises from a cold, 

 and to cure it, administer three or four cloves of garlic every day to 

 the little patients. 



When your pigeons are infested with INSECTS, you will find 

 that smoking their feathers thoroughly with tobacco is the best 

 curative. 



The CANKER is occasioned by the cocks pecking each other, 

 which, as they are extremely irritable, they often do ; and to cure 

 it, the parts affected must be rubbed every day with burnt alum and 

 honey. 



When the incrusted flesh round the eyes of carriers, barbs, or 

 horsemen is injured or pecked, it should be bathed with salt water 

 for several days, and if this remedy does not succeed, another com- 

 posed of two drachms and a half of alum dissolved in an ounce and 

 a half of water should be tried. 



When pouters and croppers have fasted somewhat longer than 



