PIGEONS 253 



destruction of crops by the occupants of these caused serious 

 losses to the farmers and a great deal of trouble between them 

 and their landlords. This form of protection for roving pigeons 

 in agricultural districts was finally abandoned. 



No doubt the selfishness of landlords was originally responsi- 

 ble for this method of protecting pigeons, but the government 

 of the country at that time also had something to do with it. 

 Pigeon manure is very rich in niter, which in those days the 

 government had difficulty in procuring in such quantities as it 

 needed for the manufacture of gunpowder ; so it adopted the 

 policy of regulating the construction of pigeon houses, prescrib- 

 ing the method of disposing of the droppings to conserve the 

 niter in them and appointing official inspectors to see that its 

 regulations were observed, and collectors to gather the pigeon 

 manure. It was much easier to do this when large flocks were 

 kept by landlords than when an equal number of the birds were 

 kept in small flocks by the tenants. 



Place in domestication. Although many farmers keep small 

 flocks of pigeons, the pigeon in modern times is a city bird 

 rather than a country bird. The strong flying types are all well 

 adapted to an independent life in towns and cities, where, as 

 has been stated, they often become a nuisance. This form of 

 nuisance might be partly abated and perhaps prevented if city 

 authorities would systematically and humanely exterminate the 

 free flocks of common pigeons, and encourage citizens to breed 

 improved varieties under proper control. 



Pigeon culture does not afford as many or as good opportuni- 

 ties for profit as poultry culture does, but it is suited to condi- 

 tions under which poultry do not thrive. A flock of pigeons 

 may be permanently maintained by a city resident who has so 

 little room for domestic birds that, if he kept poultry, he would 

 have to renew his flock every year. A few pigeons may be kept 

 by any one who can provide a nesting place for them where they 

 will be safe from cats and rats. In this country the growing of 



