THE DOVE-COTE CATS. 



dwellings, stables, bake-houses, brew-houses, or such 

 offices ; or their proper place is in the poultry-court. 

 A dove-cote is a good object, situate upon an island, 

 in the centre of a piece of water : indeed, such is a 

 proper situation for aquatic poultry, and rabbits 

 also ; and may be rendered extremely beautiful and 

 picturesque by planting, and a little simple orna- 

 mental and useful building. Where pigeons are 

 kept in a room, some pers6ns prefer making their 

 nests upon the floor, to escape the danger of the 

 young falling out ; but in all probability this is to 

 guard against one risk, and incur a great number, 

 particularly that of rats and other vermin. 



The FRONT of the pigeon-room, or cote, should 

 have a south-west aspect; and if a room be selected 

 for the purpose, it is usual to break a hole in the 

 roof of the building for the passage of the pigeons, 

 which can be closed at convenience. A platform is 

 laid by the carpenter at the entrance, for the pigeons 

 to alight and perch upon, with some kind of defence 

 against strange cats, which will often depopulate a 

 whole dove-house ; CATS are yet necessary for the 

 defence of the pigeons against rats and mice, as they 

 will both destroy the birds and suck the eggs ; 

 thence cats of a known good breed should be trained 

 up familiarly with the pigeons. The platform should 

 be painted white, and renewed as the paint wears 

 off, white being a favourite colour with pigeons, and 

 also most conspicuous as a mark to enable them to 

 find their home. The boxes also should be so 

 coloured, and renewed as necessary, for which pur- 

 pose lime and water will be sufficient. 



