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It is ncceflary to give food to pigeons during 

 the Benting-feafon only : but it (hould be done 

 hy three or four o'clock in the morning ; for 

 they rife early. If you ferve them much later, 

 they will keep hovering about home, and be 

 prevented taking their necefTary cxercife. If 

 you feed them the year round, they will not 

 breed near fo well as if forced to feek their own 

 food; for they pick up in the fields what is 

 pleafant and healthy to them, and from the be- 

 ginning of harveft to the end of feed-time they 

 find plenty. 



At the latter end of every flight be careful 

 to deftroy all thofe eggs which were not laid in 

 proper time. The proper time for the fpring- 

 flight is in April and May. After the harvefl- 

 flight, cold weather begins to come on, which 

 injures the old pigeon much if fhe fits late; and 

 the young will be good for nothing, if hatched. 

 A warm fituation fuits pigeons the bed. 



It is very neceflary to pay attention to clean- 

 linefs in the management of a dove-cot. Before 

 breeding-time the holes ought to be carefully 

 examined and cleaned ; for if any of the young 

 die in the holes in fummer, maggots are fooa, 



bred 



