THE PIGEON BOOK 63 



I am certain the higher and drier a loft the better it is 

 for the birds. 



Plenty of light from the sun's rays must be admitted 

 into the loft, and the birds fed on sound, dry, well- 

 harvested corn. 



As I stated at the outset, I must confess I have never 

 seen cases of feather rot in Belgium, and attribute the fact 

 to the lesser humidity of the country. There lofts are 

 generally in the house, and invariably much drier than 

 ours. Consequent on this they can keep more birds in 

 much smaller lofts. 



There may be, and possibly are, other causes for this 

 most troublesome disease, but the well-managed loft that 

 is not overcrowded and where birds are managed in a 

 simple, reasonable manner will generally be free from this 

 as well as other troubles. 



Going Light. 



This disease is often compared with consumption, or a 

 wasting of the lungs. I don't think it is. 



I believe that more cases of going light arise from mal- 

 nutrition than any other cause. 



Some have concluded it is contagious. With this I 

 disagree. 



It is sometimes epidemic, and often attacks many in- 

 mates in a loft, spoiling the whole of the breeding season. 

 In bad cases it is generally by a complete stoppage of the 

 working of the organs of nutrition. 



The bird shows great avidity for food, and feverishness, 

 but the food remains in the crop until the subject even- 

 tually dies through the crop hardening and choking it. 



Life can only be saved in bad cases of this kind by 

 opening the crop and removing the obstruction. 



When the obstruction is not speedily removed, acute 



