142 Pigeons and Ali, About Them. 



and dirt which m;i\ be about, and with particles of 

 food, forms a thin coaling almost like glue round 

 about the face and head. 



In washing the head care is needed to keep the 

 soap out of the e}es. The e>es of some Pigeons are 

 verv sensiti\e. I have known a bird to lose its sight 

 for se\eral da\s, and for its eyes to be \"ery highly 

 inflamed, owing to particles of soap getting into them 

 during the \\ash. A little of the suds getting into the 

 eyes will not hurt, and be\ond a temporary smarting 

 the bird will not suffer, but the soap should be used 

 sparingly about the eyes, as should too much be used 

 \ev\ serious harm ma\ result. An easy method of 

 loosening the dirt round the face is to rub the feather 

 well with the forefinger instead of the sponge, as by 

 so doing the suds and sponge are kept away from the 

 eves of the bird. If the wings and tail are very dirty 

 thev should be spread on the table and well rubbed 

 with the sponge. 



CLE-^iRING OUT THE SO.\P. 



This about completes the lathering process, and 

 the next thought is how to get the soap>- suds out of 

 the feathers again. To do his, hold the bird firmly 

 between both hands and mo\ e it swiftly to and fro in 

 the water in the first basin, so as to clear the wings 

 and tail, then with a clean piece of sponge go well 

 over the body, sousing it completely with the clean 

 water; repeat the process in the third basin, and not 

 much soan will ha\"e been left behind. Don't be 

 afraid to use plentv of A\'ater. Give the bird a 

 thorough good sousing, for imless vou get every 

 particle of so.-ip out of the web of the feather all your 

 labour will ha\-e been in vain, and the last state of 

 \-our bird will be worse than the first. Should an\' 

 soap be left in the feathers the bird will present a 

 \-erv rough ,'ippcarance when drv, as the soap will 

 pre\'ent the feathers from webbing, and thev will look 

 harsh and cottony in appearance. 



The rinsing ha\ing been finished, draw- the wing 

 and tail smarth' through the hands — this will extract 

 much of the water from the feathers. Then well mop 

 the bod\' with a (lr\- sjionge. Next take one of the 



