The Zoologist— October, 1867. 937 



owner is not able to see the birds conveniently, or to examine the 

 nests when required. 



" Another point of the highest importance to the health of the birds 

 is the establishment of a good system of ventilation. Nine-tenths of 

 the diseases that afflict our high-bred pigeons arise from their being 

 crowded together in dark, dirty, ill-ventilated lofts. There is no 

 necessity for an absolute draught of wind to be allowed to rush 

 through the loft, but full provision must be made for ventilation if 

 healthy birds are desired. 



" Cleanliness in the pigeon loft is no less essential than ventilation, 

 particularly if many birds are kept and they are not flown. The loft 

 should be cleared out daily. Under no circumstances should the dung 

 be suffered to accumulate until it becomes offensive to the smell. 



" Fresh gravel, sand or dry earth should be thickly strewn on the floor 

 every day, and the dung that accumulates in the nest-boxes and around 

 the nest pans, not suffered to collect so as to be offensive. The most 

 convenient instrument for cleansing the shelves will be found to be a 

 small hoe fixed on a short handle about eight or ten inches in 

 length. 



" Pigeons are often kept in lofts, or in the spaces under the tiles or 

 slates of a house. In this case the rafters should be properly boarded 

 over, otherwise the dung which falls upon the laths is with difficulty 

 removed, and there is the still more serious evil that the owner's foot 

 may occasionally slip off the rafter and find its way through the ceiling 

 into the room below. 



" It is requisite that the loft or room devoted to pigeons should be 

 proof against the ingress of cats, rats and other vermin. Strange cats 

 are most destructive to pigeons. When a cat has once tasted pigeon 

 she seems to prefer it to all other food. Sometimes the access of a 

 cat can hardly be prevented, and it may be necessary to get rid of the 

 intruder to prevent the entire loss of the stock. A box trap baited 

 with a pigeon's head will be found to be invariably successful in the 

 capture ; after which pussy may be shaken into a bag, which may then 

 be placed in one pailful of water and pressed down with another." — 

 p. 40. 



" The loft should if practicable admit of being divided, so as to 

 enable the separation of the birds during winter to be readily accom- 

 plished. With the more common hardy breeds, this is not absolutely 

 requisite, as in a well-sheltered room they will go on breeding success- 

 fully nine or ten months out of the twelve j but with the more artificial 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. II. 3 G 



