BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



ter months. The agriculturist of Norman and 

 much later days, not having these resources, 

 had but one course to pursue. He fed his flocks 

 and herds through spring and summer upon 

 grass ; then, when the grass grew scant in au- 

 tumn, there was a universal slaughter, all save 

 a few breeding animals being killed and salted 

 down for winter food. November in Old 

 German was called Slagtmonat, or slaughter 

 month, the Anglo-Saxon equivalent being 

 Blodmonath or blood-month. On pillars in 

 Carlisle cathedral are seen carvings which dis- 

 play the various occupations of the months. 

 That for December shows a man, a poleaxe, 

 and an ox about to die. 



With this elimination of fresh beef and mut- 

 ton from the winter bill of fare, we understand 

 how welcome would be any smaller creatures 

 which would live through the lean months and 

 yield a never-failing stock of appetising food. 

 Such a place was filled to perfection by the 

 pigeon, a bird needing little space for the ac- 

 commodation of several hundreds; exceed- 

 ingly prolific ; and, moreover, capable of pro- 

 curing its food over a wide range of country 

 34 



