MEAT-BOX WATER-BOTTLE MATCHING. 163 



ing been constantly attended, we have never found 

 the need of any other convenience than earthen 

 pans ; but there have been ingenious inventions for 

 this purpose, of which the MEAT-BOX and WATER- 

 BOTTLE following are specimens. The meat-box is 

 formed in the shape of a hopper, covered at the top 

 to keep clean the grain, which descends into a square 

 shallow box. Some fence this with rails or holes on 

 each side, to keep the grains from being scattered 

 over ; others leave it quite open, that the young 

 pigeons may the more easily find their food. 



The WATER-BOTTLE is a large glass bottle, with a 

 long neck, holding from one to five gallons, its belly 

 shaped like an egg, that the pigeons may not light 

 and dung upon it. It is placed upon a stand, or 

 three-footed stool, made hollow above, to receive the 

 belly of the bottle, and let the mouth into a small 

 pan beneath : the water will, in such wise, gradually 

 descend out of the mouth of the bottle as the pigeons 

 drink, and be sweet and clean, and always stop when 

 the surface reaches the mouth of the bottle. 



To MATCH or PAIR a cock and hen, it is necessary 

 to shut them together, or near and within reach of 

 each other; and the connexion is generally formed 

 in a day or two. Various rules have been laid down, 

 by which to distinguish the cock from the hen 

 pigeon ; but the masculine forwardness and action 

 of the cock is, for the most part, distinguishable. 



INCUBATION. The great increase of domestic 

 pigeons does not proceed from the number of eggs 

 laid by them, but from the frequency of their hatch- 

 ing. The hen lays but two eggs, and immediately 



