6o Fancy Pigeons, 



squeezing the crop till they disgorge it, when they will be right again 

 in a short time. When, however, the crop is so gorged as to contain 

 nearly as much as the weight of the whole bird, it is a bad sign, and it 

 will then be found that neither the stocking nor box remedy will be of 

 any use, for the stomach has lost its power of action. The crop may 

 then be cut open, cleaned out and sewn up again, the inner and outer 

 skins being carefully sewn separatel}'. This operation is often success- 

 fully performed, but in many cases it is of no use, as the powers of the 

 stomach have become impaired, and as soon as the bird is at liberty it 

 will speedily be gorged again, nothing that is eaten passing into the 

 stomach. From this cause many of the best pouter pigeons ever seen 

 have died, and with those best developed in crop it will always be 

 one of their complaints most to be feared. Besides cutting the crop 

 open in bad oases of gorging, Moore says, " Others will tie that part 

 of the crop in which the undigested meat lies, tight round with a string 

 and let it rot off. This method never fails, though it spoils the shape 

 of the crop." With a pouter considered valuable for stock, and past his 

 best show days, a curtailment of crop is not any drawback, but rather 

 the reverse. Charcoal capsules are useful for preventing the corruption 

 of the food in the crop of a gorged pouter, and copaiba capsules are 

 used to make them disgorge, and are very effective sometimes. A 

 pouter should be attended to on showing the least signs of becoming 

 gorged ; delay is dangerous. 



Insects. — Pigeons are apt to be infested with several kinds of insects. 

 The feather louse is harmless, as far as ever I saw, and seems to be 

 common to all pigeons. It is found chieflj' about the neck feathers, and 

 requires the natural heat of the bird to keep it alive, for on the death 

 of a bird they may be seen crowding up towards its head, in a sort of 

 torpid state. The pigeon louse is troublesome on all birds unable from 

 a malformed beak to preen themselves, and when allowed to increase, for 

 want of a little blue ointment, renders their lives truly miserable. Short- 

 faced tumblers are as liable as any to these lice, and should be examined 

 frequently by blowing up the feathers about the vent. A little mer- 

 curial ointment rubbed about that part, and under the wings, will kill 

 all that come in contact with it. Ticks, I think with Mr. Brent, proceed 

 from a fiat fly that may be sometimes seen running over young pigeons, 

 and hiding among thoir feathers. This fly (which is difficult to catch, 



