16 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



winter, with a few tares ; adding dari, wheat, or rice in summer 

 with gi'eat discretion. 



Hempseed is bad for all pigeons as regular food, being too 

 oUy and heating ; but a handful now and then amongst the 

 occupants of a loft acts as a gentle stimulant ; it is also useful 

 in matching birds, and as an occasional restorative. Pigeons 

 prefer it to nearly anythiug, and careful use of hempseed is, 

 therefore, an excellent means for those who desire it, to make 

 their pigeons tame. By its use the wildest may be taught to 

 eat on the hand. Other small seeds, such as canary and mUlet, 

 are veiy useful as a relish now and then, to tempt appetite in 

 sick birds, or to old birds in breeding time ; for instance, if 

 young ones seem badly fed on any particular occasion, a supply 

 of small seeds will often cause the parents to give them a 

 bountiful meal. Mixtures of such smaller grains are often sold 

 by corn-merchants for pigeons, and when all the kinds are of 

 good quality, are very useful in these ways. 



"We have just spoken of quality, and should here add that 

 this is of the greatest importance for all pigeons. Beans are 

 sometimes sold (to any one who will buy them) so old and 

 hardened with age as to be almost impossible of digestion ; and 

 we have also seen peas and tares so old, dry, and worm-eaten 

 as to be equally worthless. Both peas and tares should be a 

 cei'tain age, new ones being apt to scour the birds ; but they 

 should be sound and unshrivelled. We may also remark that 

 the ordinary white peas, such as are used for soup, are not, as 

 a rvile, so good for pigeons as the grey or dark peas. They 

 seem to suit some birds very well, especially the hardier sorts 

 which can be allowed to fly at large; but other pigeons are 

 scoured by them, and they should therefore be always given at 

 first with very great caution. 



Much dispute has taken place concerning the quantity of 

 food a pigeon eats in the course of a year, and very exaggerated 

 statements have been made on the subject, with very little 



