32 Fancy Pigeons. 



The best covering for the floors of outside flights is small gravel ; 

 such as can be got from sea beaches, mixed to some extent with broken 

 shells, is very useful, the birds using much of it to aid thorn in digesting 

 their food. It should be raked up now and then, and renewed when it 

 gets soiled. A tray, containing lime from old buildings, should also be 

 provided in the flighty and unless this be done the fancier must look for 

 an unduo proportion of soft-shelled eggs. Pigeons are very fond of salt, 

 which can be given them in various forms. Some throw down a little 

 common coarse salt, on a flat board, once or twice a week, or place a piece 

 of rock salt in a corner of the flight ; while others mix old lime, gravel, 

 clay, and salt into a mass, and put it into boxes, open on one side or 

 pierced with holes, for the birds to peck at. Recipes for making the 

 srUt cat, as it is called, may be found in the old pigeon books ; but the 

 above ingredients are all that are really required. 



What has been called a great improvement in fitting up a pigeon house 

 is an arrangement similar to a lot of hat or clothes pegs fixed to the walls 

 for the birds to perch on. These may neither be unsuitable nor unservice- 

 able for small active pigeons, biit they are certainly dangerous for 

 pouters, carriers, fantails, jacobins, and trumpeters of the better sort, 

 all of which should have no resting places except their nests, or the floor 

 of the loft. 





