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I could not prevail upon the man to difclofe 

 his fecret, or I would here give the recipe for 

 the public good : but the principal ingredients 

 were undoubtedly fait and afa-fcetida. How- 

 ever, as he had convinced me of his fkill in pi- 

 geons, I liftened carefully to his inftrudlions 

 concerning the management of them. He ad- 

 vifed me never to go into a dove-cot later than 

 mid-day, but as early in a morning as conveni- 

 ent* Whatever repairs are necefTary, either to 

 the building or to the nefts, fhould be done be- 

 fore noon : for, if you difturb the pigeons in 

 the afternoon, they will not refl contentedly 

 the whole night ; and the greateft part perhaps 

 will not enter the cot until the next day, but 

 will fit moping on the ground i and it in breed- 

 ing-time, either a number of eggs may be fpoil- 

 ed, or feveral young ones ftarved to death. — 

 He likewife cautioned me againft letting the 

 firft flight fly to increafe my fl:ock, but to take 

 every one of them ; as thefe will come in what 

 is called Benting-timey that is, between feed time 

 and harveft. ]t is then that pigeons are the 

 fcarcefl: of food ^ and many of the young would 

 pine to death through weaknefs during that 

 feafon. It 



