Housing. 11 



of the roof, which was a span. The ground space was 

 ten feet b)' ten, and the houses each had a flight 

 eighteen by ten. They were very strongly built, the 

 framework beine 4in. by 3in., and the roof, sides, 

 floors all of lin. boards, tongued and grooved, the roof 

 being covered with felt. The ends and sides were 

 painted. The birds had egress from the house into 

 the flight through a large sliding window, 3ft. by 6ft. 

 The flights also were span-roofed, the covering being 

 corrugated iron. In each of these houses I used to 

 breed ten pairs of birds, the yoiuig being removed to 

 the nursery when a month old. 



A M.-VGNIFICENT RANGE. 



One of the most practical ranges of Pigeon houses 

 known to me is that of my friend, jNIr. Richard Woods, 

 of Mansfield, the famous Dragoon King. This is 

 built of brick, each house having a floor space of 9ft. 

 by 9ft., and a flight Oft. by 14ft. With this I give a 

 bird's eye view of a section of the range, and a ground 

 plan of the whole. To build such a range of houses 

 is a costly proceeding. The walls are double all 

 round, and are what are known in the building trade 

 as cavity walls — that is, having a space between each. 

 This ensures dryness, and is an aid to efficient ventil- 

 ation, as ventilating bricks may be used in the top 

 courses. The fronts have substantial door and 

 window frames and sills, and are fitted with the slid- 

 ing windows of which I spoke in connection with my 

 own lofts. The doors are of one inch thickness, the 

 roof is a lean-to, and this is netted over so as to allow 

 the birds access for their sun bath, of which I spoke 

 earlier on. The ground plan shows a gangway 

 between the two ranges of houses, and this provides 

 a good vantage .grotind for the owner to watch and 

 study his birds. 



COVERED FLIGHTS. 



This stamp of house, whilst most admirable for 

 Dragoons, Homers, Owls, Turbits, Carriers, Antwerps, 

 and other strong clean-leeeed birds, would not do at 

 all for Pouters, Pigmies, Trumpeters, Fantails, 

 Jacobins, or any of the breeds of delicate colour, such 



