146 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



pigeon has a great power of flight, and will go to a distance 

 of many miles in quest of the means of subsistence ; but 

 wherever it may fly, it never fails to return home. The lead- 

 ing features of the district around its habitation appear to be 

 impressed upon its memory, and flying at a great height, and 

 with a wonderful power of vision, it sees the well-remembered 

 landmarks, and directs its path homeward. This habit of 

 seeking for the place where it was reared makes it difficult to 

 keep pigeons in any new home. The best plan of inducing 

 them to settle in a new abode is to clip one wing, which pre- 

 vents their flying, and keep them in a cot near the ground, 

 till they get accustomed to the place. 



Many persons keep their pigeons in the space between the 

 garret and roof of their dwelling-house, with holes at which 

 they go out and in ; and this arrangement answers very well, 

 for the animal's lodging must be dry and comfortable. A 

 more regular plan is to furnish them with a properly con- 

 structed dove-cot, aloof from any building. The cot should 

 consist of a substantial wooden box, with a sloping roof, and 

 divided interiorly by partitions into as many cells as pairs are 

 to be kept, for each pair requires a distinct cell. Each cell 

 should be twelve inches deep from front to back, and sixteen 

 inches broad ; the entrance hole should not be opposite the 

 centre of the cell, but at a side, so that the pigeons may build 

 their nest a little out of sight. In front of each cell there 

 should be a slip of wood to rest and coo upon ; but as different 

 pairs incessantly quarrel about the right of walking on these 

 slips, and are apt to fight for the possession of cells, it is best 

 to separate the slips with upright partitions ; and it would be 

 an improvement to have two or three small cots, instead of one 

 large one. The cot, of whatever size or form, should be 

 elevated on a wall facing the south-east, or otherwise placed 

 at such a height as will be ouf of the reach of .cats and other 



