34 



FANCY PIGEONS. 



as a Decoy for your Neighbours' Pigeons; this, tho' handed 

 down by some Authors as the only Method for this Purpose, 

 is generally laughed at by the Gentlemen of the Fancy, and 

 never practis'd." I have an old book on Agriculture (1687), 

 from which Moore has quoted when writing of the value of 

 pigeons' dung, which gives a recipe for the preparation of the 

 disgusting compound called salt-cat. The author also makes 

 the following sensible remarks : " There is nothing that 

 Pigeons more affect than Salt; therefore, do they usually give 



10 INCHES 



FIG. 10. SALT EARTH Box FOR PIGEONS. 



them, as oft as occasion requires, a Lump of Salt, which they 

 usually call a Salt-Cat, made for that purpose at the Salterns, 

 which makes the Pigeons much affect the place, and such as 

 casually come there usually remain where they find such 

 good entertainment." I have experimented regarding the 

 necessity of salt for pigeons, and noted the experience of 

 others, and have ever found, when it has been long with- 

 held from them, they suffered more from disease, and that a 

 greater portion of their young died before maturity. One 

 writer goes the length of saying, that it is necessary for the 



