FRENCH COLOMBIER 



by the use of bricks of several colours; they in- 

 clude red, in two distinct shades; with yellow, 

 green and purple, the three last being glazed. 

 These are arranged in great variety of pattern. 



Further, there is a row of glazed tiles, on 

 the white ground of each being a profile head 

 or other ornament. This dovecote probably 

 dates from the early portion of the sixteenth 

 century, the house to which it is attached being 

 older still. 



In southern France it was necessary for the 

 pigeon-keeper to take careful thought for his 

 birds, particularly with regard to the icy blast 

 of the mistral. They needed air and sun, but 

 must be sheltered from the wind. 



Consequently, in the neighbourhood of such 

 places as Toulouse and Montauban, we find 

 high dovecotes of square form, having a lean-to 

 roof the slope of which was towards the south. 

 The highest wall and the two side walls rise 

 above this roof for several feet, and it thus 

 forms a sheltered place on which the birds can 

 sun themselves at ease. Small pinnacles may 

 frequently be placed at each of the four corners, 

 sometimes withprojectingperchesforthebirds, 



27 



