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and ahould the tobacco water drain into the sawdust so much the better. I think 

 this would effectually keep them from the nest pans, for it is to them anything 

 but a sweet savour. Nevertheless, if this should fail, they will drive me to argue 

 the cause with them ; I will consider what will kill a young pigeon in the nest, or 

 one of these insects ; and if there was not any other way left to exterminate the 

 vermin, I would rub a little of the blue ointment on that side of the matting that 

 comes next the sawdust — I said "little " so as not to affect the young hatched bird, 

 a very little would do, and kill all that touch it, without the possibility of injuring 

 the young bird, for it is on the other side of the matting, and if the insects is on 

 the top side of the matting it will most assuredly pass through, where there will 

 be something that will give it a warm reception, and effectually kill it. I do not 

 expect that you will be driven to such extremities, for I think you will find that 

 the sawdust, or the sawdust and the decoction of tobacco combined, will cause 

 the insects if any, to leave the birds that are setting, and get at the bottom 

 outside the pans. You will therefore perceive that it not only keeps the young 

 birds free from insects, but absolutely cleanses the old ones likewise during their 

 setting. It will be as well to put a little straw in the bottoms of their made-up 

 pans ; one reason is, they like to set on straw — and the other is, there may be a 

 doubt in your mind as to the injurious effect of the blue ointment ; besides it 

 appearing as natural as any thing that I am aware of to the birds. I would not 

 on any account have the straw longer than six inches for the better laying in the 

 nest pans. 



You will find your interest in it if you let them have on the floor a small round 

 basket, the wicker about one inch and a half a part, and filling it with straw as 

 before observed, six inches long, it teaches them to find their penns, they appear 

 to take great delight in carrying it to their nest pans, and leave off robbing their 

 neighbours ; it is necessary at times to cast your eye round to see the nest pans, 

 for some few of the birds will carry so much straw to their nest, that it will surprise 

 you how it was that the eggs did not roll off, and if they hatched, the young 

 would be in great danger of falling off the nest, when this is discovered remove a 

 portion, still leaving them a good nest, for fear they should desert it ; my pan may 

 likewise be objected to as being too deep, with the sawdust and matting I can 

 make it any depth, as occasion requires. 



I observed, in a former part of this work, how restless some of the young ones 

 were, and would get out of their pans and die of cold ; might not this restlessness 

 arise from the belly ache ? for why should not young pigeons have the belly ache 

 as well as other things ? I have now the advantage in having deep pans, for I can 

 take the sawdust and matting away and putting a little straw at bottom will 

 confine them to their pans, for they could not get out of a pan four inches deep ih 

 the clear ; likewise, the pan being only seven inches diameter at the top, quite 

 large enough for Almond Tumblers, proves the advantages to be derived from 

 these snug pans. When the pans have become dirty and it is necessary to clean 

 them, lay hold of the rush matting and pull it out, scrape it and lay it in the 

 tobacco water, which will kill the vermin, should there happen to be any, dry it 

 and it will be ready for use again ; it will be advisable to turt! the sawdust out of 

 the pan into the fire : now with respect to the cleansing of the pan, should there 

 be any insects in the porous parts of the pans, either in the inside or outside, 

 attempting to destroy them with clear water would be useless. 1 formerly used 

 (after my nest pans were washed) to place them in a large tub of tobacco water 

 which I obtained from the tobacco manufacturers, it being stronger than I could 

 make it, this effectually destroys the vermin and nits ; some Fanciers wash their 

 pans with soda and water, others after washing the pans thoroughly clean, put 

 them into the copper amongst the soap-suds and soda after " a Great Wash," as it 

 is called, not forgetting to give the fire an extra poke. If you make your nests 

 as I do with saw dust and rush matting, instead of putting a little straw on the top 

 of the matting use wormwood, a small quantity will do, and it will cause the 



