14(3 Pigeons and Ai.i. About Them. 



Fatal results are indeed few and far between so 

 far as washing is concerned. A bird should come 

 out of the ^\•ash looking none the \\orse for the 

 experience, and be able to walk round the drying 

 basket and commence shaking and preening itself 

 dlrectlv. Should it happen that a bird does come out 

 of the wash looking rather weak, helpless, and pros- 

 trate, don't be alarmed. I ha\"e seen some of the 

 ner\"ous ones look as though thev were approaching 

 I heir end when the\" have first been put in the drying 

 Ijasket, but after they ha\-c lain helpless for a few 

 moments thev hnve pulled themselves together and got 

 on their legs. 



FAT.ALITIES SELDOM OCCUR. 



.-Vs I ha\"e said, fatal results seldom occur, and 

 when the\- do it is not because of the washing, but 

 generalh' because the bird has been held too tighth' 

 in the hand and has not been able to breathe properly. 

 There is a wonderful diiTerence in birds. Some will 

 struggle tremendoush' the whole time, not onh' w^hilst 

 in the water, liut e\"en whilst being dried in the 

 towels ; others are \ er\' passi\"e, and gi^■e little trouble. 

 .Should, howe\er, a bird struggle and \'ou feel it is 

 going to elude your grasp, let it do so. Don't on anv 

 .account attempt to tighten your hold on it, because 

 it you do you m;ty possibly nip It too tight and stop 

 the circulation of its heart, or }"0u may onlv half 

 grasp it and pull a lot of feathers out. Therefore, if 

 it plunges and struggles, let it go ; \'OU can \-erv 

 easil}' pick it up .again. 



It the bird is held firml\- in the manner I ha\"e 

 prc\aously described, it will not be able to struggle 

 much. The first and greatest consideration in the 

 washing of Pigeons is plent_\- of self-confidence on the 

 part of the operator, .-Hnd wlicti such is wanting the 

 Pigeons seem, b>' some Intuit i\c instinct, to recognise 

 the fact, and, like wilful cliildren with a weak p.arent, 

 the\- act accordlnglv. .\ strong, firm, \et tender 

 grasp is wh.at is required, and when this is present 

 the birds, as a rule, are as quiet and docile as lambs. 

 There is_a great art in handling birds pt-operlv, and 

 an experienced .'ind skilful washerman feels quite as 



