NATURE AND HABITS 15 



by the time the squabs are fully feathered, it is 

 whole grain soaked in water. A pigeon always 

 eats all he can, then fills his crop with water. 



As soon as it is time for the milk to form 

 for the new babies, the parents drive the older 

 ones off the nest to shift for themselves, if they 

 have not already gone of their own accord. It 

 is then time for the breeder to remove them 

 to a youngster pen, at the same time pulling out 

 their tail feathers, on the principle, I suppose, 

 of cutting ofE a child's hair to increase its size 

 and strength. From the market pen they are 

 shipped before they are old enough to leave 

 the nest — between three and four weeks old. 



The milk flows easily from the parent's bill 

 into that of the baby squab as she or he hovers 

 it, but when it becomes less digested it requires 

 much labor and the parent is obliged to stand. 

 That Is the reason the nests should be large, 

 with a wide platform before them, otherwise 

 they will become discouraged and will not 

 breed, especially the English runt, which is the 

 largest known pigeon. Under proper condi- 

 tions I have found the runt to be as prolific a 

 breeder as the homer and hen pigeons. 



Pigeons have the reputation of eating off 

 their heads, but the pigeon raiser must take 

 intQ consideration that he is feeding four in- 



