BARREL DOVE-COTE BREEDING-HOLES. 161 



expected, often to the destruction of eggs or young, 

 or driving the weakest away. 



The common BARREL DOVE-COTE needs no de- 

 scription, at the same time is adapted to every situa- 

 tion, in which it is desirable to keep pigeons for 

 ordinary use. To return to the ROOM or LOFT ; 

 the shelves should be placed sufficiently high, for 

 security against vermin, a small ladder being a ne- 

 cessary appendage. The usual breadth of the shelves 

 is about twenty inches, with the allowance of eighteen 

 between shelf and shelf, which will be sufficient not to 

 incommode the tallest pigeons. Partitions between 

 the shelves may be fixed at the distance of about 

 three feet, making a blind, by a board nailed against 

 the front of each partition, whence there will be two 

 nests in the compass of every three feet, so that the 

 pigeons will sit in privacy, and not be liable to be 

 disturbed. Or a partition may be fixed between 

 each nest ; a good plan, which prevents the young 

 from running to the hen sitting over fresh eggs, and 

 perhaps occasioning her to cool and addle them ; for 

 when the young are about a fortnight or three weeks 

 old, a good hen will leave them to the care of the 

 cock, and lay again. 



Some prefer BREEDING HOLES entirely open in 

 front, for the greater convenience in cleaning the 

 nests ; but it is from those that the SQUABS are 

 likely to fall; thence a step of sufficient height is 

 preferable. The tame pigeon seldom taking the 

 trouble to make a nest, it is better to give her one 

 of hay, which prevents her eggs from rolling. Or a 

 straw basket, or unglazed earthen pan, may be 



