so THE PIGEON BOOK 



advise generally, as far as practicable, the administration 

 of drugs in capsule form. 



Improper food and improper feeding are answerable 

 for more disease in pigeons than all the other causes put 

 together. In fact, when I am consulted on the subject of 

 birds suffering from ailments I at once enquire into the 

 nature of the food used, its quality, and method of 

 distribution. 



The chief causes of disease in pigeons are food, water, 

 atmosphere, contagion, heredity. 



If pigeons have the hopper containing food always 

 before them I do no think they will take food to excess ; 

 but if they are fed at intervals, especially if these inter- 

 vals are too great, then I think obstruction of the crop 

 and stomach will take place, and irregular digestion 

 cause many diseases of the organs of nutrition. In fact, 

 most pigeon troubles are traceable to this cause. 



I have from time to time warned fanciers against the 

 use of maize, because I have traced so much pigeon dis- 

 ease to its constant use. 



The like warning is necessary with regard to tares. 



Good sound tares make the finest nutrition for pigeons, 

 but they are very expensive, and so subject to fungoid 

 growths that fanciers cannot be too careful in the use of 

 this grain to ensure its being of good quality. 



Bearing in mind that grain in the least manner con- 

 taminated by fungus will cause incalculable harm to 

 pigeons, fanciers cannot be too careful to obtain dry, 

 sound corn, and to store it in such a manner that it always 

 remains so. 



Barley stored in a low temperature will become ram- 

 pant with weevil ; stored in a high and dry temperature 

 the weevil cannot hatch or live. 



I have kept samples of the same corn and stored it in 



