The Feather's Praccical Pigeon Book 



noy the dog and the cat, but smaller and of a shiny 

 black. They frequent the nests chiefly, and while they 

 suck the blood of the squab do not seem to annoy the old 

 birds. Persian inesct-powder makes short work of them. 

 If discovered, burn the nesting-material and sprinkle the 

 powder in the new material and about the nest or nest- 

 pan. Kerosene will be also found eiifectual. 



TICKS 



This is an insect not very common, but none the less 

 an annoyance when it makes an attack. They usually 

 fasten about the head of the bird, and are great blood- 

 suckers, frequently causing the death of the young 

 squabs. They are very quick in their motions, and may 

 be seen occasionally darting through the feathers of the 

 birds. They are about the size of a bed-bug, and I am 

 inclined to think have given rise to the idea that pigeons 

 draw these bugs to a house. But this tick I mention I 

 have never known to annoy the human family. Per- 

 sian insect-powder will clear them out. 



There is another bug found at times very plentifully 

 about ill-kept pigeon-houses. It is about the size of a 

 small grain of buckwheat and of a dull brown color. It 

 is, as far as my observation goes, harmless, never troub- 

 ling the pigeons, and only desiring to be let alone. It 

 comes through the warm weather, and while to all ap- 

 pearances doing no harm, is repulsive and suggestive of 

 a lack of care. 



In this connection, while treating of vermin, I may 

 mention the four-legged vermin that occasionally visit 

 a pigeon loft ; namely, rats and mice. These are capable 

 of causing great loss to the fancier, and need to be 

 guarded against as carefully as the insects. If a loft is 



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