74 Pigeons and All About Them. 



strained off the corn, boiling water should be poured 

 over it, anid allowed to stand for a few moments so 

 as to warm the corn right through. If this is done 

 the food SO' given is much inore easily digested by 

 the 5-'oung squabs. They feel more comfortable than 

 if a lot of cold water-logged food is rammed into t'heir 

 crops. Digestion being rendered more easy is also 

 more thorough. There is not the severe tax on the 

 digestive organs, the food is more easily assimilated, 

 its nutriment more quickly and thoroughly extracted, 

 and there is less possibility of diarrh(ea and other 

 intestinal troubles being sc"t up. 



As a 'rule, the neglect of the youngsters only 

 lasts for a few daN's, and then having got over the 

 fever and excitement of thinking of the second nest, 

 the old birds take up their parental duties again in 

 the most exemplary manner; but it iis during those 

 few days that the future of many a would-be cham- 

 pion is not only marred, but co:npletely spoiled. 

 Hence the great importance of the birds being well 

 watched at this time and artificial feeding being re- 

 sorted to. No breeder of high-class birds should enter 

 upon the breeding season's campaign without a supply 

 of Wood's Nutrisules or Tocher's Invigorators. 

 There are times in ttie life of a yonng squab when one 

 of these assistants to the upbringing of young Pigeons 

 is worth its weight in gold. To be forewarned is to 

 be forearmed. 



FROJM SOUABDOM TO SOUEAKERDOM. 



When the hen has laid her second batch of eggs 

 and gone tO' nest, the cock will do the major jioirtion 

 of the work entailed in looking after the first faanily. 

 He it is who will see that they get their breakfast in 

 the morning, as the hen will then be on the nest, aind 

 he it is who will give them their supper at night; 

 and these are the two most important meals in the day 

 for young growing Pi,geons just emer,ging from squab- 

 dom to squeakerdom. I may say here that whiVst 

 young Pigeons are in the nest-pan and have not much 

 except down toi cover them, the>' are known as squabs, 

 but when they are feathered and leave the nest-box 



