176 FOOD. 



end is for the convenience of entering to 

 clean the nests, to replenish the water and 

 food, and to take out such of the squabs or 

 young as may be required for use. In some 

 part of the pigeon-house should be kept a 

 small feeding-hopper, and a water-bottle re- 

 versed in a pan. What is called a salt cat 

 is placed in the dovecots in Europe, to 

 attach pigeons to the place, and, at the same 

 time, to furnish them with a grateful condi- 

 ment. A jar or any cylindrical vessel is 

 perforated with holes to admit the bills of 

 the pigeons. This is filled with gravel or 

 sand, loam, the rubbish of old walls, or 

 slacked lime, about a gallon each. To this is 

 added a pound of cummin seed and a hand- 

 ful of coarse salt, and the whole mixed up 

 with stale wine. They are very fond of this 

 mixture. To make a pigeon-house available 

 to its greatest extent, it should be cleaned out 

 slightly every day, and thoroughly once a 

 week, spreading fresh sand on the floor. 



Many persons experience great difficulty 

 in commencing a pigeon establishment, as 

 they usually desert it for the nearest pigeon- 



