42 WATEK SUPPLY. [CHAP. n. 



degree of regularity. The object of thus feeding them 

 within-doors is partly to confirm their affection for the 

 spot, and partly to give the forward squeakers that may 

 have quitted the nest, a chance of learning to peck for 

 themselves. Colder, old mortar, and the lime-rubbish 

 from dilapidated buildings, when it can be had, is an 

 excellent thing to strew their floor with, in addition to 

 the gravel ; if it is not obtainable, a few lumps of clay 

 or brick-earth, and a spadeful of dry loamy soil may be 

 put down here and there. Two other luxuries should 

 never be wanting, salt and water ; day by day it should 

 be looked to that there is a sufficiency of these. They 

 will be more effectual than almost anything in prevent- 

 ing the birds from straying, and, if you wish it, in tempt- 

 ing your neighbours' birds to repeat their chance in- 

 trusions. The salt may be of any coarsely-granulated 

 kind, set down in an earthen pan ; it can be eaten more 

 readily than rock-salt, and is therefore more agreeable. 

 Fanciers who are more superstitious than cleanly, can 

 prepare the Salt-Cat according to the most potent and 

 the nastiest recipe *, but we have found that the mineral 

 in its natural state answers every purpose of keeping 

 the birds healthily contented with their lot, and so have 

 avoided handling ingredients amongst which assafoatida 

 is not the most disagreeable. 



As to the water supply, every earthen-ware and glass 

 shop affords plenty of choice ; the open pan gives the 



* " So named, I suppose, from a certain fabulous oral tradition of 

 baking a cat, in the time of her salaciousness, with cummin seed, 

 and some other ingredients, as a decoy for your neighbours' pigeons." 

 Treatise^ p. 31. 



" Some make use of a goat's head boiled in urine, with a mixture 

 of salt, cummin, and hemp." The New and Complete Pigeon- 

 Fancier, by Daniel Grirton, Esq., p. 59. 



