Bird Study 



47 



that the nest may remain hidden. In front of each door there 

 should be a little shelf to act as a balcony on which the resting parent bird 

 may sit and coo to 

 relieve the monotony 

 of the sitter. Some 

 breeders make a 

 double compartment 

 instead of providing a 

 balcony, while in 

 Egypt branches are 

 inserted in the wall 

 just below the doors 

 of the very ornamen- 

 tal pigeon houses. 

 The houses should be 

 kept clean and white- 

 washed with lime 

 to which carbolic acid 

 is added in the pro- 

 portion of one tea- 

 spoonful of acid to two 

 gallons of the wash; the leaf stems of tobacco should be given to the 

 pigeons as material for building their nests, so as to help keep in check the 

 bird lice. There should be near the pigeon house plenty of fresh water 

 for drinking and bathing; also a box of table salt, and another of cracked 

 oyster shell and another of charcoal as fine as ground coffee. Salt is very 

 essential to the health of pigeons. The house should be high enough from 

 the ground to keep the inmates safe from rats and weasels. 



Politer pigeons 

 Photo by J. Demary 



LESSON VIII 

 Pigeons 



Leading thought — The pigeons differ in appearance from other birds 

 and also in their actions. Their nesting habits are very interesting and 

 there are many things that may be done to make the pigeons comfortable. 

 They were, in ancient days, used as letter carriers. 



Methods — If there are pigeons kept in the neighborhood, it is best to 

 encourage the pupils to observe these birds out-of-doors. Begin the 

 work with an interesting story and with a few questions which will arouse 

 the pupils' interest in the birds. A pigeon in a cage in the schoolroom for 

 a special lesson on the bird's appearance, is desirable but not necessary. 



Observations — i. For an out-of-door exercise during recess let the 

 pupils observe the pigeon and tell the colors of the beak, eyes, top of the 

 head, back, breast, wings, tail, feet and claws. This exercise is excellent 

 training to fit the pupils to note quickly the colors of the wild birds. 



2. On what do pigeons feed? Are they fond of salt? 



3. Describe how a pigeon drinks. How does it differ in this respect 

 from other birds? 



4. Describe the peculiar movement of the pigeon when walking. 



5. Describe the pigeon's flight. Is it rapid, high in the air, do the 

 wings flap constantly, etc? What is the chief difference between the 

 flight of pigeons, crows or hawks ? 



