MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS III 



same nest. Never take a squab from a nest while the 

 parents are feeding "pigeon milk." 



How to carry a bird. — The proper way to carry a 

 bird in the hand is shown in Fig. 27. Let the legs drop 

 between the first and second fingers, while the thumb 

 is clasped about the tail and ends of the wings. Held 

 in this position, the bird cannot struggle and injure 

 itself. It can be carried any distance without fear 

 of injury. 



Receiving birds. — When newly purchased birds are 

 to be added to the flock, they should be critically ex- 

 amined, when still in the hamper. Look for signs of 

 lice, symptoms of canker or other diseases. They 

 should never be placed in the breeding quarters until 

 the fact of their being mated is fully established. 



Will shipping birds break mating? — Frequently 

 customers complain to dealers that the birds they 

 bought do not mate. A common reply is that the buyer 

 must have patience, as shipping birds a long dis- 

 tance often breaks up mating. We have not known of 

 a single instance in which mated birds, actually taken 

 off the eggs or squabs, have failed to go to work 

 promptly after shipment. Such action proves conclu- 

 sively that the birds were mated at the time the pur- 

 chase was made. 



How to catch birds. — In the pen birds may often 

 be easily caught by approaching quietly, holding the 

 hands above the head. Usually the bird flies up- 

 ward and by a quick motion with a little practice often 

 it can be secured. In the fly, however, a large net, 

 such as that shown in Fig. 15, is used. The net is 

 hung on a ring 3 feet in diameter, having a handle 

 about 3 feet long. The net must be used to catch fly- 

 ing birds. Never try to capture a bird as it flies 



