Fancy Pigeons. 



been advised by some ; but nitrate of silver or powdered alum, according- 

 to otters, is more efficacious. Canker of tho beak and eye wattles of 

 carriers and barbs may be treated in tbe same way, and then covered 

 with starch or plaster of Paris ; and common salt is said to be a cure for 

 the small tumours called small pox, that sometimes appear on the wattles 

 of carriers. 



Cold in pigeons may be known by a running at the nostrils and eyes. 

 It becomes more or less severe according to its restriction to the upper 

 or lower air passages. More or less deposit of cankerous looking 

 matter will take place in severe cases, but warmth and an aperient will 

 generally effect a cure. What is known as the one-eyed cold is a more 

 serious complaint. In this only one of the bird's eyes is effected. The 

 lids get much swollen and close over the eye, from which, and from 

 the nostrils and mouth as well, matter generally runs for a week or two. 

 The inflammation is severe while it lasts, which is often for a fortnight 

 or three weeks, but seclusion from draught, and bathing with warm 

 water twice daily, will almost always result in cure, without the use of 

 any medicine. 



Tlie Core. — This is a tumour that grows in or near the vent, and is not 

 of very common occurrence. When in the vent, the bird will be seen 

 pecking at the part, and on examination there will be found what looks 

 Uke a prolapsus of that organ, wet and bloody. After a few days this will 

 harden and dry up, and when the scab comes away the core wUl be with it. 

 The core was so called by the old writers on account of its resemblance 

 to tho core of an apple. When it comes on the belly, somewhere near 

 the vent, its presence will be unsuspected till discovered by accident. A 

 hard lump will be felt on handling the bird, and on removing the feathers 

 the skin will be found stretched over it like a net. On cutting the skin, 

 the core, which is like a small shelled walnut, will come away easily, if 

 ripe. I have not seen more than eight or ten cases of the core in 

 thousands of pigeons. 



Diarrhoea. — During the moulting season some birds will for several 

 weeks be affected with a more or less severe diarrhoea, and pass nothing 

 but fluid matter. The best remedy for this is a plentiful supply of old 

 lime, and they generally recover as they get through the moult. If a 

 bird so affected loses flesh, a change to a more binding kind of food will 

 be of service. 



