88 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



reciprocal; the fidelity of the dove to its mate being pro- 

 verbial. Young pigeons are termed squeakers, and begin 

 to breed at about the age of six months, when properly- 

 managed: their courtship, and the well known tone of 

 voice in the cock, just then acquired and commencing, 

 are indications of their approaching union. Nestlings, 

 whilst fed by the cock and hen, are termed squabs, and 

 are at that age sold and used for the table. The dove- 

 house pigeon is said to breed monthly, being well supplied 

 with food, more particularly when the ground is bound by 

 frost, or covered with snow. At any rate, it may be de- 

 pended on, that pigeons of almost any healthy and well- 

 established variety, will breed eight or ten times in the 

 year; whence it may be conceived how immense are the 

 quantities which may be raised. 



The first step towards pigeon keeping, is, undoubtedly, 

 to provide a commodious place for their reception, of 

 which I shall afterwards speak; the next, to provide the 

 pigeons themselves. These will be had in pairs, but if 

 not actually matched, pains must be afterwards taken, to 

 that end, that no time be lost; indeed, they may be match- 

 ed according to the fancy of the keepers, for the purpose 

 of varying the colours, or with any other view. But it is 

 necessary to give a caution on the subject of old pigeons, 

 of which a bargain may offer, since the difficulty of retain- 

 ing them is so great, indeed insuperable, without the strict- 

 est vigilance. Nothing short of cutting their wings, and 

 confining them closely until they have young to attach 

 them to the place, will be a security; and even after- 

 wards, they have been known to take flight with the first 

 use of their wings, and leave their nests. I have had se- 

 veral examples of this. Thence it is always preferable to 

 purchase squcako's, or such as have not yet flown; these, 

 being confined, in a short time, well fed, and accustomed 

 gradually to the surrounding scenery, before they have ac- 

 quired sufficient strength of wing wherewith to lose them- 

 selves, will become perfectly domesticated. 



The dove-cote, or pigeon-loft, as to its situation or ex- 

 tent, will necessarily depend on convenience, one general 

 rule, however, must be invariably observed, — that every 

 pair of pigeons have two holes, or rooms, to nest in. 

 Without this indispensable convenience there will be no 

 security, but the prospect of constant confusion, breaking 

 of eggs, and destruction of the young. Pigeons do well 

 near dwellings, stables, bake-houses, brew-houses, or such 

 offices; or their proper place is in the poultry-court. A 

 dove-cote is a good object situate upon an island, in the 

 centre of a piece of water: indeed, such is a proper situa- 

 tion for aquatic poultry, and rabbits also; and may be ren- 

 dered extremely beautiful and picturesque by planting, and 

 a little simple ornamental and useful building. Where 



pigeons are kept in a room, some persons prefer making 

 their nests upon the floor, to escape the danger of the 

 young falling out; but in all probability this is to guard 

 against one risk, and incur a great number, particularly 

 that of rats and other vermin. 



Cleanliness is one of the first and most important consi- 

 derations: the want of it in a dove-cote will soon ren- 

 der the place a nuisance not to be approached; and the 

 birds, both young and old, will be so covered with vermin, 

 and besmeared with their own excrement, that they can 

 enjoy no health or comfort, and mortality is often so in- 

 duced. Ours were cleaned daily, thoroughly once a week, 

 a tub standing at hand for the reception of the dung, the 

 floor covered with sifted gravel, often renewed. Pigeons 

 are exceedingly fond of water, and, having a prescience of 

 rain, will wait its coming until late in the evening, upon 

 the house-top, spreading their wings to receive the re- 

 freshing shower. When they are confined in a room, 

 they should be allowed a wide pan of water, to be often 

 renewed, as a bath, which cools, refreshes, and assists 

 them to keep their bodies clear of vermin. In the attend- 

 ance upon pigeons, caution is necessary with respect to 

 their fighting, to which they are more prone than might 

 be expected, often to the destruction of eggs or young, or 

 driving the weakest away. 



The shelves should be placed sufficiently high, for secu- 

 rity against vermin, a small ladder being a necessary ap- 

 pendage. The usual breadth of the shelves is about 

 twenty inches, with the allowance of eighteen between 

 shelf and shelf, which will be sufficient not to incommode 

 the tallest pigeons. Partitions between the shelves may 

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

 by a board nailed against the front of each partition, 

 whence there will be two nests in the compass of every 

 three feet, so that the pigeons will sit in privacy, and not 

 liable to be disturbed. Or a partition may be fixed be- 

 tween each nest; a good plan, which prevents the young 

 from running to the hen, sitting over fresh eggs, and perhaps 

 occasioning her to cool and addle them: for when the 

 young are about a fortnight or three weeks old, a good 

 hen will leave them to the care of the cock and lay again. 



Some prefer breeding-holes entirely open in front, for 

 the greater convenience in cleaning the nests; but it is 

 from those that the squabs are likely to fall, thence a 

 step of sufficient height is preferable. The tame pigeon 

 seldom taking the trouble to make a nest, it is better to 

 give her one of hay, which prevents her eggs from rolling. 

 Or a straw basket, or unglazed earthen pan, may be placed 

 in every nest, apportioned to the size of the pigeons you 

 breed. A pan of three inches high, eight inches over the 

 top, and sloping to the bottom like a basin, will be of suf- 



