36 National Standard Squab Book. 
not all run out at once by the bottom hole. It is a simple principle in 
hydraulics which you may demonstrate tu your own satsfaction by filling 
an ordinary tumbler with water aad then inverting it in a saucer of 
water. There is no way for the air to get to the inside of the tumbler 
except by passing under the rim at the points where it touches the saucer, 
consequently it does not flow down unless the water is removed from the 
saucer, and then it ceases as soon as the water in the saucer rises over 
the 1im of the tumbler again. In fact, some self-drinkers for poultry are 
uiade of two pieces of pottery exactly on the principle of the tumbler and 
saucer. These fountains are not so practical as the fountain which we 
illustrate, because a pigeon can roost on the top of it and foul the saucer 
with its droppings. In the fountain which we picture it is impossible for 
droppings to reach the mouth containing the water, even if the pigeon 
is perched directly on top of the fountain. The barrel shape of the foun- 
tain makes it hard for more than one pigcon to perch at the same time on 
its top, but one pigeon usually is found there. He gets up there, for the 
special purpose, it seems, of fouling the water, but the fountain beats 
him and he can’t do it. Neither can he put his feet in the water unless 
he is an extraordinary gymnast capable of holding this body out at an 
angle to the perpendicular. The result is, that in actual practice the 
water keeps clean, and there is a supply of it ready about all the time. 
«A fountain of a gallon capacity will keep-two or three dozen pairs of 
breeders supplied all day. The fountain is filled by turning it on end and 
pouring water down into the opening. If you fill the fountain at the same 
time yon fill the bath pan in the morning, you will have done your duty 
by the pigeons for the day. 
There are several patterns of self drinkers ‘but the principle of all is 
the same and you should select a pattern something like that we have de- 
seribed and which appears to you to be best protected from soilings. 
These fountains are for sale by every poultry supply store in every trad- 
jug centre. 
The best place for the batk van is out in the yard of the flying pen. 
A pan 15 inches in diameter is right for a flock up to 24 pairs of birds 
and it will do for a large flock if you renew the water. The pan should 
be from four to six inches deep, not over six inches, for a pigeon will not 
bathe in water where it would be likely to drown if pushed or sat on by 
its mates. Having the bath pan in position on the ground of the ‘flying 
pen, you take to it once each day, in the morning, a ‘bucket of water, aod 
pour the water into the pan. Then you can go away to ‘business, if you 
wish. The pigeons will fly to the pan from the interior of the house, or 
from the roof, wherever they happen to be. Some will splash right in. 
Others will perch on the rim and drink before they bathe. When the 
water gets dirty, they kuow enough not to drink, unless they are very 
sorely pressed indeed for water. The water does get quite dirty from the 
bathing. A thick, greasy, white scum forms. The pigeons do not rustle 
in the dirt, as a hen does, but rely on the water to keep them clean and 
