BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



alone, on the ground that bathing was bad for 

 the eggs on which hen birds might be sitting. 

 Pigeons being very cleanly birds the keeper 

 of the columbarium was to sweep the house 

 out several times a month, and that for the ad- 

 ditional reason that the manure yielded was 

 of the highest quality. The present use of this 

 manure as a tanning agent for certain classes 

 of skins is not alluded to. 



Varro goes on to speak of the desirability of 

 the window or windows admitting plenty of 

 sunlight, and of the necessity of a netted-off 

 chamber for the sitting hens; also that these 

 should have a due amount of exercise and air, 

 lest, " saddened by the slavery of continued 

 confinement," they might lose their health. 



It seems that the occupants of a pigeon- 

 house were expected to draw others of their 

 kind to swell the owner's colony; for the 

 pigeon-keeper is reminded that if his birds are 

 anointed with myrrh, or if a Httle cummin or 

 old wine be added to their usual food, the 

 pigeons of the neighbourhood, attracted by 

 the sweetness of their breath, would follow 

 them. This recipe, or something very like it, 

 8 



