BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



Remembering the part played by pigeons 

 in bringing about the French Revolution; re- 

 membering, too, the modern pigeon-shooting 

 "days," arranged, as we are told, to rid the 

 country of a farmers' pest, it may surprise us 

 to observe howoften pigeons are still tolerated, 

 perhaps encouraged, in their former dwell- 

 ings, even when the dovecote is upon a farm. 

 Pigeons, we see, are kept at Fulford Hall and 

 at Snape Castle; while at Sharleston and the 

 neighbouring farm the dovecotes shelter some 

 two hundred birds. Is, then, the pigeon such a 

 foe to farming as has been believed.i* 



In answer to a question on this point a 

 Yorkshire farmer writes as follows — and the 

 agriculturists of Yorkshire are not usually re- 

 garded as being either fools or failures: 



"The ravages on crops by pigeons, crows, 

 etc., are no doubt very serious at times. On 

 more than one occasion I have had large pieces 

 of wheat practically ruined by crows. At times 

 in midwinter I have shot a few pigeons, and 

 their crops are alwaysgorgedby what are prob- 

 ably weed seeds. In my opinion the harm 

 done for short periods in the year is more than 

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