PREVENTION OP VERMIN. 31 



Some people use birch twigs for the nests, such as are cut 

 off by besom makers in trimming their work. The pigeons 

 seem to prefer these to anything ; and as they also have an 

 aromatic smell which seems to repel vermin, where they can 

 be obtained they make an excellent material, but the sawdust 

 is most generally at command. The hopper and fountain will 

 of course be raised on a piece of wood, so as to be above the 

 sawdust on the floor. 



Another efficacious plan of keeping insects from the loft is 

 to suspend a few bottles, open at the mouth, 

 and filled with bi-sulphide of carbon. The smell 

 is very disagreeable, and seems to keep all insect 

 vermin away, while the pigeons appear not to 

 mind it in the least ; but as the vapour is highly 

 inflammable, those who have to visit their lofts 

 by candle-light must take care not to bring the 

 light near the mouth of any of the bottles. The 

 use of sawdust will answer most purposes. If 

 the proper kind cannot be procured in quantity 

 sufficient to cover the floor, coarse sand or 

 gravel is the best substitute, but the loft must 

 then be cleaned oftener, and it is advisable to Kg. ie_ 

 keep turpentine, paraffin, or carbolic acid 

 sprinkled about, or to use the bi-sulphide as above mentioned. 

 In any case the slanting boards under the perches, the 

 shelves, &o., must be kept clean by being well scraped at 

 frequent intervals. This is facilitated if they are painted. 

 Much the best form of scraper is the triangular one shown in 

 Fig. 16. It has not only three working edges, but will scrape 

 out comers which a square form cannot reach. 



We purposely describe none but the earthen nest-pans, from 

 a conviction of their infinite superiority to all others. The 

 only substitute we would admit is a wooden nest-pan, well 

 painted, so as to leave no chink or aperture of any kind. We 



