The Feather's Prai.tical Pigeon Book 



fully with warm, soft water and a little carbolic soap. 

 When thoroughly cleansed, remcive the feathers about 

 the wound, and if possible to do so, draw the edges to- 

 gether holding them in place by strips of adhesive plas- 

 ter. If the nature of the wound will not permit of this, 

 then dress with some healing ointment, bandaging if 

 possible, and keep the pigeon secluded from its mates. 



INSECT PESTS 



Pigeons are infested at times with a number of para- 

 sitic pests. They are the results, in a measure, of a 

 neglect of proper cleanliness in the loft, and a lack of 

 bathing facilities. Lofts frequently cleaned and white- 

 washed and birds well suppUed with bathing-water are 

 seldom annoyed with lice or fleas. We may excuse the 

 novice whose loft becomes once infested with lice, or an 

 ignorance of these pests may lead to their getting the 

 upper hand, but after one experience there is no excuse 

 for a recurrence of the evil. The fancier who has once 

 had a personal visit from them and felt the torment of 

 their crawling up the back, between the shoulders and 

 in the hair at the back of the neck, will be very likely 

 to remember it, and ever after use every available means 

 to rid his premises of such an irritating plague. There 

 are five different varieties of these vermin. They are 

 known as lice, feather-lice, mites, fleas, and ticks. 



LICE 



Are usually the result of a neglected condition, and a 

 bird in a delicate and sickly condition will generally be 

 found to be more or less infested with them. To birds 

 in a healthy and robust condition and that have fre- 

 quent access to the bathing-dish they are comparatively 

 unknown, as they are lovers of filth, and only thrive 

 where cleanliness is a stranger. Birds with short bill? 



148 



