THE PIGEON LOFT. 7 



it has been usually in close confinement, the birds never being 

 allowed outside. Pigeons com be kept even like this ; but they 

 are always liable to disease, and can never enjoy existence as all 

 pet creatures should do. And it is quite easy to make even the 

 top of a house all that can be desired in any way. We give a 

 sketch which wiU show at a glance what we mean, and the idea 

 of which is taken from the well-known loft of Mr. "Wallace, of 

 Glasgow. The plan (see Fig. 2) consists simply of carrying 

 wire-work square up to the level of the apex of the roof and to 

 the extent of the walls, and needs no further explanation. A 

 few shelves, such as already described, will make a roof so 

 furnished a happy abode for any pigeons; and as in the former 

 case is perfectly secure, or is easily made so, from any form of 

 depredation. 



So much for the outside of the loft ; we must next turn to 

 the inside. The great thing to be here studied is proper 

 breeding accommodation; and here again it is singular, and 

 speaks volumes for his thorough practical knowledge of the 

 subject, that the very first writer on pigeons — old Moore before 

 mentioned — describes the arrangement which is still by general 

 experience pronounced best. " To make your breeding places," 

 says he, " you may erect shelves about fourteen inches broad, 

 allowing eighteen inches between shelf and shelf, for otherwise 

 your tail Pouters, by being forced to crouch for want of height, 

 will get a habit of playing low, and spoil their carriage. In 

 these shelves erect partitions at about the distance of three 

 feet, fixing a blind by a board naOed against the front on each 

 side of every partition ; by this means you will have two nests 

 in the length of every three feet, and your pigeons will sit dark 

 and private." In Moore's time it seems to have been usual for 

 fanciers to keep a few of almost all varieties, and hence his 

 dimensions are, unless for Pouters, unnecessarily large; but 

 his general arrangement is admirable, and we proceed to show 

 clearly its application to our supposed loft of six feet square. 



