PIGEONS. 97 



lime mortar, and a little clay, mixed with spicy seeds, as 

 caraway, which they allow their pigeons to feed upon at will. 



The seed may be scattered on the floor amongst the gravel, 

 although many persons recommend little contrivances to put it 

 in. on the score of keeping it cleaner and better. 



DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION AND MANAGEMENT. 



FAMILIARISED, or fancy pigeons are generally confined in 

 aviaries, or lodged in appropriate buildings attached to or near 

 the house of the breeder, in order that they may be regularly 

 and easily fed, cleansed, and duly attended to in all matters 

 having reference to their condition and health ; for their natural 

 instinct and feeling of liberty have been so nearly effaced, or 

 placed in abeyance by the captivity to which they have been 

 subjected, for so many generations, that they have become 

 nearly dependent upon man for support, and have lost the 

 power or capability, even when allowed to fly at large, of 

 looking for and finding their own food. 



In these buildings, it is common to erect a certain number of 

 boxes, or divisions, against the walls or sides, each calculated 

 to accommodate a pair of pigeons, with their nest and young. 

 They succeed best when separate and distinct from each other, 

 with a small platform, and an entrance just large enough to 

 admit the bird ; as when disposed in a continuous row, and 

 open in front, they are apt to interfere with each other, and, 

 by their jealousies and contentions, prevent the due increase 

 of eggs and young. 



The most common shape for a pigeon house is the one repre- 

 sented in the succeeding illustration, but the form is immaterial. 

 It is, however, necessary that the holes should be large enough 

 for the birds to turn round in with ease ; and there should be in 

 front shelves and partitions of from seven to nine inches in 

 depth, so as to keep the couples apart, and afford them resting 

 places ; and two holes for each couple, between each partition, 

 will be desirable. The cot should be fixed where it will be 



