INTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS. 9 



We will suppose the height of the back part, opposite the door, 

 to be seven feet (we most strongly advise ample height in all 

 cotes or lofts specially constructed, which will promote ventila- 

 tion, and tend to counteract canker, diphtheria, and numerous 

 other diseases). The back of the loft will then appear as in 

 Fig. 3. Here a a are the shelves, which for all varieties but 

 Pouters will be sufficiently roomy if made twelve inches wide 

 and about fourteen inches apart. At b b is the perpendicular 

 partition dividing the whole into two widths, or ranges, of three 

 feet wide each ; and c c are the perpendicular boards, also 

 twelve inches wide, nailed bodily over the ends of each range. 

 All is in this way put up in the simplest manner, and without 

 an inch of waste. Behind the covering boards, in the sheltered 

 recesses thus formed, are placed the nest-pans (d d), to be 

 further described in another chapter. 



In such a loft as here described, we strongly advise leaving 

 the top ranges open, to be fronted with wire as in the figure at 

 ff. These pens will be most useful for the temporary con- 

 finement of strange pigeons, received, perhaps, on approval ; or 

 for hospital purposes when any ailment to be treated is not 

 contagious ; or to confine birds it is desired to stop breeding. 

 It will also be well to fix double swing wire fronts to the open 

 part of another shelf, as at e e. These will answer the same 

 purpose ; and by providing wire partitions, which can be slid 

 in between the front wires, they will make most excellent 

 "matching" pens, the use of which will be seen presently. 

 The bottom range of all, on the floor, had better be left clear, 

 and will come in handy, either for young ones or an occasional 

 ground nest, as will be seen by-and-by ; or when not wanted 

 for such purposes, the water-fountain can be placed under the 

 shelf on a raised stage, and the gravel-box or salt-cat can also 

 be placed there, or even the food-hopper. They will be out of 

 the way, and leave the floor clear, and the shelf above will keep 

 all from being fouled by the birds. For this latter part of the 



