22 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



birds are kept, there should either be a ledge at the side of the 

 bath or a piece of brick in the centre, else an unusually 

 weakly bird may be unable to get out of the water, and be 

 drowned. 



There is yet another requisite, however, and that not the 

 least important. Almost every one has noticed the propensity 

 of pigeons left at liberty to peck at old mortar, and their in- 

 ordinate fondness for salt. The last circumstance makes it 

 extremely probable that the original Blue Rock, or wild pigeon, 

 was an inhabitant of the sea-cliffs ; and the salt no doubt plays 

 an important part in keeping their blood and digestive system 

 in proper order. The old fanciers used to make what they 

 called a " salt-cat." This was composed of equal bulks of brick 

 clay, coarse gritty gravel, and old pounded mortar. To about 

 a gallon of this mixture was added half a pint of cummin seed 

 and the same quantity of coarse bay salt, and the whole mixed 

 up with urine into a stiff mortar. Strange to say, this nauseous 

 compound is preferred by all pigeons to more cleanly substi- 

 tutes ; and since few people now like to dabble in such messes, 

 there are almost always dealers who find it answer to make and 

 sell salt-cat, and of whom it may be bought without asking 

 awkward questions. It should be placed in a covered box, 

 pierced with holes round the sides through which the birds 

 can put their heads to peck at it, and not exposed to the rain, 

 which washes the salts away. Many people prefer a mixture of 

 mortar, sandy gravel, and earth, with a portion of bay salt, not 

 mixed up at all, but given as a loose, dry mixture ; and this 

 will answer very well for all practical purposes. Such a mix- 

 ture should be kept in a box, with a long horizontal slit in one 

 side wide enough for the pigeons to put their heads through, 

 but not large enough for them to get in, as they would soon 

 tread the contents firm and solid. When old mortar cannot be 

 had, old slaked lime will do instead. "We have, however, found 

 that pigeons certainly are, as the old fanciers believed, ex- 



