SETTLING THE BIRDS. 29 



very least before being re-mated, and care should be taken 

 that the old companions are placed in separate lofts. For all 

 these purposes, and as " matching pens," nothing can be better 

 adapted than the wire-fronted shelves already described in our 

 first chapter. 



When there is any difficulty in matching it usually comes 

 from the hen. A strong bold bird will, especially if she has been 

 matched previously, often thrash the husband proposed to her 

 most severely, and, if left to herself, defeat in this way all pro- 

 posed arrangements. This is, however, only where the birds 

 come together on equal terms ; and can be overcome by taking 

 advantage of the fact that a pigeon most at home in any given 

 place is nearly always master of it. In such a case, therefore, 

 the cock should be left alone in the matching pen, with only a 

 daily fly of an hour to keep him vigorous, and given a little 

 hempseed ; while the hen is kept in a small and rather dark pen 

 quite away from him, also with a little hempseed every day. 

 After a few days' close confinement, about the middle of the 

 morning turn the hen in to the cock, and he will almost in- 

 variably reduce her to submission. 



Another precaution is very necessary to avoid trouble and 

 loss, and that is, never to turn a lot of newly-matched birds 

 into the loft together. If this is done they will all be quarrel- 

 ling for choice of nesting places; and besides the general 

 hindrance to breeding and damage to eggs, the result will 

 probably be several cross-matches, or divorces and new unions. 

 Turn one pair in by themselves, or two pairs if the loft is clear. 

 They will soon choose a home ; when another pair can be turned 

 loose, and so on till all are settled. Here, again, will be found 

 the great use of the portions of the shelves which are fronted 

 with wire in the plan already given. Pigeons once thoroughly 

 matched, and turned in judiciously, will generally remain faith- 

 ful throughout the season. 



For the actual nests we strongly advise earthenware pans. 



