riGEON-snooTiN'o.] r>V IMHLD, WOOD, AND WATER. [i'iui:oN-BttEEDiNo. 



the eggs. La Vaillant clasBilies thorn under 

 tliree aections : Ist, colombes, ramiers, and 

 tourterelles ; 2ml, cohimbars ; 3rd, colombi-gal- 



lines. 



IMGKON-MATCll SHOOTING. 



"When pigeon-match shooting iirat com- 

 menced in England, it is diflGcult to say. It 

 is noticed at length, and as an established 

 sport, in the Sporii/iff Maf/,i:i>u; before the close 

 of the last century. The account given of it 

 there, shows tliat the sport, as it was then fol- 

 lowed, was pretty much the same as it is at 

 the present day. Pigeons require to bo bred 

 for shooting- matches ; and, for this purpose, a 

 commodious place to rear and protect them is 

 necessary. This, of course, will be varied ac- 

 cording to the circumstances and position of 

 the pigeon-breeder. But whatever be the size 

 or shape of the dove-cote, it must have two 

 holes or rooms for the birds to nest in. With- 

 out this arrangement there will bo constant 

 confusion, and the eggs will get broken con- 

 tinually. A dove-cote, entirely isolated, will 

 prove more secure than any other, as vermin 

 will then find it difficult, and in some cases 

 impossible, to shelter themselves in it. When 

 pigeons are kept in a room, and have to lay 

 their eggs on the floor, they are liable to be 

 destroyed by rats. 



Every dove-cote should, if possible, have a 

 south-west aspect; and if a room be fixed 

 upon for that purpose, a hole may be made in 

 the roof of the building for the passage of the 

 burds, and a platform constructed at the en- 

 trance for the pigeons to alight upon, and with 

 some defence against cats, which will often 

 destroy a whole dove-cote in a single night. 

 If cats can be reared to be familiar with 

 pigeons, then they may become guardians 

 instead of destroyers of them, and prevent 

 the cote from being invaded by rats or mice. 

 This platform should be painted white, which 

 is a favourite colour with the birds, and it 

 is likewise conspicuous as a mark to enable 

 them to find their way home. The boxes 

 irhould also be coloured, and renewed when- 

 ever necessary ; for which purpose lime and 

 water will be sufficient. 



Cleanliness is of great importance in a dove- 

 cote, to prevent the birds from becoming in- 

 tested with vermin, and also to keep them 

 otherwise healthy. All dove-cotes should. 



therefore, be cleaned at leaot once a week, 

 and the pigeons ought to bo kept well supplied 

 with water to drink. When coniined in a 

 room, thoy should bo allowed a wido pan of 

 water; and this should often be renewed, as a 

 bath, which cools, refreshes, and assists them 

 to keep their bodies clear of vermin. In at- 

 tending to pigeons, care should be taken that 

 they do not light, as, when this occurs, both 

 tho eggs and young aro endangered. 



The common barrel dove-cote is very com- 

 mon, and, no doubt, found very suitable for a 

 pigeon-house. It is to be seen in almost every 

 situation where pigeons are kept. 



PIGEON-BREEDING. 



In pairing pigeons for breeding, a con- 

 siderable degree of caro is necessary. It may 

 be done according to the fancy of the keepers, 

 for the purpose of varying the colours, or with 

 any other view. Old pigeons are difiicult to 

 retain securely, as they are apt to fly away on 

 every opportunity of gaining their freedom. 

 It is better to have what are called squakers, or 

 such as have not yet flown : these, being con- 

 fined, well fed, and gradually accustomed to 

 the surrounding scenery before they have ac- 

 quired suflicient strength of wing to fly from 

 their cotes, will, in a short time, become per- 

 fectly domesticated. 



In a room or loft appropriated to the rear- 

 ing of pigeons, the shelves should be placed 

 sufliciently high to secure them against the at- 

 tacks of vermin. It is recommended that the 

 usual breadth of the shelves should be about 

 twenty inches, with the allowance of eighteen 

 between shelf and shelf, which will be quite 

 enough not to incommode the tallest birds. 

 Partitions between the shelves should be fixed 

 at the distance of about three feet, making a 

 blind, by a board nailed against the front of 

 each partition, where there will be two nests 

 in the space of every three feet ; so that the 

 pigeons will sit in privacy, and not be liable 

 to be disturbed. Or, a partition may be fised 

 between each nest ; which will prevent the 

 young from running to the hen, sitting over 

 fresh eggs, and perhaps occasion her to cool 

 and addle them ; for, when the young are about 

 a fortnight or three weeks old, a good hen will 

 leave them to the care of the cock, and lay 

 again. 



599 



