( 64 ) 

 S E C T I O N LV. 



On Pigeons y and the hejl Method of treating them, 



DOVECOTS ought to be built fo fpacious 

 that the pigeons may with cafe and comfort to 

 themfelves fly about within them, and that, 

 if any thing alarm them from without, they 

 may readily efcape* If a dovecot be high, 

 and narrow within, pigeons will diflike going 

 to the bottom : I have known, when voun^ 

 pigeons have tumbled out of the neft, that the 

 old ones have fuffered them to ftarve rather 

 than go to the bottom to feed them. I had a 

 fummer-houfe in my garden, which I convert- 

 ed into a dovecot* For fake of ornament, I 

 raifed my new building a confiderable height : 

 but the infide was narrow like a well. The 

 young pigeons frequently fell on the floor, 

 Ipme of which were found dead with empty 

 craws, others picked up alive, but half ftarved. 

 No pigeons ever laid their eggs in the bottom 

 holes ; nor would even the young rood in 

 them. We had a great number in the winter, 

 becaufe ws fed them well -, but many flew 



awav 



