PIGEONS. 



been cut away and the place rubbed with caustic. Jt is gene- 

 rally thought to be contagious, so it will be as well to sepaxatu 

 a bird so afflicted from the rest as soon as possible. 



Some pigeons are afflicted witi internal weakness, bringing 

 on a disease known to pigeon-breeders as " gizzard-falling." 

 This is nearly incurable, so the sooner you get rid of the poor 

 bird the better. 



If your pigeon should be affected with atrophy, or wasting 

 of flesh, he should be supphed liberally with his most favourite 

 food. A rusty iron nail placed in his drinkiug-vessel will 

 strengthen his stomach. Birds afflicted with this complaint 

 have usually a large appetite for green food, and no less an 

 authority than Bechstien asserts that watercress is a certain 

 core for atrophy. 



It win sometimes happen that a pigeon will have a difficulty 

 in moulting his wing-feathers. Wben this is the case, take the 

 bird in your hand, and see if there are any feather-stumps stiD 

 clinging in the sockets. If so, extract them ten<ierlj with a 

 tmall pair of tweezerii. 



