The Washing of Pigeons. 139 



My own choice is a large round Poultry hamper. 

 This I have co\ered with sacking three-parts of the 

 way round, leaving the rest open, so that the warmth 

 of the fire may the more readily and easily reach the 

 birds, and allow me to see how the drying is progres- 

 sing. . The bottom of the basket I cover with cut hav 

 or straw, oat or wheat husks. This pre\ents the 

 plumage from becoming soiled by the excreta which 

 the birds may void whilst in the basket. A \er\- im- 

 portant consideration is this, because if a Pigeon's 

 feathers become stained with anvthing whilst the\ 

 arc wet, or partially dry, it is a most difficult matter 

 to restore them to their pristine beautv. 



The cloths \\hich are used for dr\ing the lairds 

 should be thrown o^er the front of the basket or 

 cage in which the birds are dried. This will not onh 

 v\'arm and dry them whilst the operation is being con- 

 ducted, but will also be useful in preventing the fire 

 from scorching the birds should it be a bit too fierce, 

 and will also prevent any draught from getting at the 

 birds whilst thev are drying. 



AI,I, READY. 



Everything being in readiness, some cold water 

 should be placed in each of the three basins, and 

 slightly tinged with a little extract from the blue-bag. 

 Then add sufficient hot water to the first basin, so 

 that }ou can comfortably bear your hand in it. If the 

 water is at all hard, a small piece of washing soda or 

 borax may be added to the water in all three basins, 

 but if you are living in a district served bv either of 

 the big northern manufacturing districts this is not 

 needed, neither is it reauired if some nice clean rain 

 water is being used. But in the South, where the 

 water contains thirtv degrees or more of hardness 

 than it does in the North, some artificial means of 

 softening must be used. If vou '^ not like to use 

 soda or borax, use ghcerine. I, myself, prefer the 

 glvcerine ; it comes more expensi\"e than soda or 

 borax, but that is nothing when one has to consider 

 the importance of turning the birds out well. Soda 

 and borax are all right for white plumaged birds, but 

 they are apt to make the colour run in such delicate 



