Humane Education 



There can be but one safe foundation as a basis for the humane 

 treatment of any creature and that is a thorough understanding of 

 its life, its adaptations and its needs. It will be the special effort 

 of the editor in her attempts to aid the teachers of New York State, 

 who must hereafter take up this work, to build up in the child's 

 mind a rational treatment based upon an intelligent understanding 

 of the habits of the animal or bird. 



While the editor has very little use indeed as a teacher for the 

 categorical question and answer method of teaching, she has found 

 that this method is in many ways more explicit than any other and 

 she trusts to the ability of the teacher to make the following lesson 

 interesting and vital. 



HUMANE TREATMENT OF PIGEONS 



Lesson I — How the Pigeons Should be Housed and Why 



(Q.) Why must the pigeon-house be mice and rat proof? 



(Ans.) Because these eat the food which the pigeons should 

 have. The rats also destroy the eggs and young pigeons. 



(Q.) How can the house be made secure against mice and rats? 



(Ans.) The walls may be interlined with wire netting, or it may 

 be placed upon pillars or posts which have shelving zinc caps so 

 that the rats cannot climb over and reach the house. 



(Q.) Why should the pigeon house be placed on well-drained 

 soil? 



(Ans.) Because when the soil is watersoaked the pigeons become 

 unhealthy from walking around in the mud. 



(Q.) Why should the openings face toward the south? 



(Ans.) Because this lets the sun in in winter and in general 

 there are fewer storms and winds that come from the south than 

 from other directions. Pigeon houses need to be well ventilated 

 and open to the sunshine to ward off disease. 



(Q.) Why should the roof of the pigeon house be water tight? 



(Ans.) A leaky roof makes the nests damp and unhealthful. 



(Q.) Describe the best kind of a pigeon house and make work- 

 ing drawings of this house. 



The following pigeon house is advised by Mr. J. C. Long; it will 

 accommodate twenty-five pairs of birds. The house is eight ft. 



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