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lous (treet. I was amazed the number of peo- 

 ple almoft continually near the place did not 

 drftiirb the pigeons fo much as to make them 

 fbrfake their habitation, efpecially as a black- 

 fmith's fhop was fituated clofc to it : but my 

 guide, the ratcatcher, told me that pigeons de- 

 lighted in noife and company, and that, if they 

 left the cot, he knew how to fetch them back 

 again. I thought he dealt a little too much 

 in the wonderful. He advifed me not to (lock 

 the dovecot until the latter end of the year with 

 the harveft flight; as pig^^ons bred atthattime 

 are the ftouteft for the winter. I followed 

 his advice, and in the proper feafon colonifed 

 ix with four dozen of pigeons, and kept them 

 inclofed for fome time j but when they were 

 let out, they all flew away in a few days. One 

 or two would fometimes come about the cot, 

 but I defpairccj of ever making them fond 

 enough of their habitation to breed in it. 



Recolledling however the aflertion of the 

 pigeon-conjurer, I fent for him, and he paid 

 me a vifit the next day. He began by filling 

 a large pot with water, and immediately threw 

 fome ingredients which he took from his pock- 

 et 



