40 NESTING-PLACES. [CHAP. 11. 



be said of Pigeon-lockers, as of governments, "which 

 e'er is best administered, is best." In the rare " Trea- 

 tise on Domestic Pigeons," an excellent plan is thus 

 suggested : 



" You may erect shelves, of about twenty inches 

 broad, for breeding places, allowing eighteen inches 

 between shelf and shelf, that Powters may not be under 

 the necessity of stooping for want of height, for in that 

 case they would contract an habit of playing low, which 

 spoils their carriage. In these shelves partitions should 

 be fixed at about three feet distance, making a blind, 

 by a board nailed against the front on each side of every 

 partition, which will make two nests in the extent of 

 every three feet ; and the Pigeons will not be liable to 

 be disturbed, as they will then sit in private. (This 

 is an excellent plan, for a reason to be hereafter men- 

 tioned.) Some fix a partition between each nest, which 

 prevents the young ones from running to the hen sitting 

 at the other end, and thereby cooling her eggs ; for in 

 breeding time, when the young ones are about a fort- 

 night or three weeks old, the hen, if a good breeder, 

 will lay again, and leave the care of the young ones to 

 the cock. Others let them breed in partitions entirely 

 open in front, for the greater convenience of cleaning 

 out their nests. I find by experience, that nests made 

 on the floor are much more convenient than otherwise, 

 if the loft will admit of it, for it prevents the young 

 ones falling out of their nests, which sometimes breaks 

 a leg, and very often lames them, and also gives them 

 a chance of being fed by other Pigeons, as well as their 

 parents, which frequently happens. In every nest should 

 be placed a straw basket, or earthen pan, that has not 

 been glazed, which prevents the straw from slipping 



