OF THE DOMESTIC PIGEON. 251 



to, and a salt cot placed in or near the house, there 

 will be little danger of this taking place. Fumigations, 

 with highly odoriferous drugs, or even assafoetida, is 

 also said to attract pigeons to a neglected dovecote, or 

 attach them to a new one. 



" Diseases of Pigeons. Fancy pigeons, being many 

 of them monstrous productions, are very subject to dis- 

 eases. Girton enumerates upwards of a dozen, with 

 their cures, including the corruption of the egg in the 

 uterus, from over high feeding; a gorged crop from 

 voracious feeding ; insects from filthiness in the pigeon 

 house, and the canker from cocks fighting with each 

 other. Little can be done in the way of curing any of 

 these diseases, otherwise than by recurrence to the 

 proper regimen ; if this does not speedily take effect, 

 it is better to put the bird hors de peine, both for hu- 

 manity's sake, and to prevent infection. Fortunately, 

 the common pigeon, reared for the table, is little liable 

 to diseases. 



" Laws respecting Pigeons. By the 1st of James, 

 c. 27, shooting, or destroying pigeons by other means, 

 on the evidence of two witnesses, is punishable by a 

 fine of 20s. for every bird killed or taken ; and by the 

 2d of Geo. III. c. 29, the same offence may be proved 

 by one witness, and the fine is 20s. to the prosecutor. 



