118 Pigeons and Ali< About Them. 



of the very best, and may contain a fair quantity of 

 wheat and maize — that is, compared to what is given 

 at other times of the year. The wheat is somewhat 

 laxative in its nature, thus keeps the bowels working 

 freely, whilst the maize is stimulating and fattening, 

 and thus does good service at this time in that it keeps 

 fle.'^h on the bodies of birds that might be apt to get low- 

 in condition. " Poor doers," as such birds are called, 

 are much helped by a little maize during the time they 

 are in the motilt. If the dietary consists of equal 

 parts maple peas, tares, wheat, and maize for the 

 stronger varieties, good feeding will be provided, 

 whilst for the smaller, and more delicate, not necessar- 

 ilv more delicate in constitution, but in appearance, 

 in feather, and general character, using the word more 

 in the sense in which it is connected with things beau- 

 tiful, the maize should be omitted. Another most 

 valuable adjunct of the dietary table of all Pigeons 

 during the moult is Siiratt's Pigeon Food. Being a 

 cooked food, it is so much more quickly and easily 

 digested than raw grain. Thus, it provides the birds' 

 systems with nourishment without half the expendi- 

 ture of nerve force that grain needs to digest it. 



USEFUI, STIMUL-ANTS. 



For birds -nliich are hanging in the moult and cast- 

 ing their feathers very slowly new wheat is a grand 

 food; it is most stimulative and sets the feathers falling 

 quickly. For slow and late moulters it is invaluable. 



iMany fanciers .gi^'e their birds pick-me-ups, and 

 conditioners, such as hemp seed, linseed, canary seed, 

 etc., during the moult, and all with the desire to stimu- 

 late and nourish the body. I am not a great advocate 

 of hemp — a little of it goes a long wa^-. In large 

 quantities it has a v>re]udicial effect upon the li^•er, 

 and is also ai:it to render the feather soft and coarse. 

 I mean, of course, when given excessively. A little 

 hemp is all very well. Then as regards the linseed; 

 few Pigeons will eat it readily. The valuable proper- 

 ties of linseed are known to all who have any practical 

 experience of getting animal life into good bloom and 

 condition, but vliilst breeders of horses, cattle, and 



