280 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



devoured by the birds annually would be 

 thirteen million bushels. If twenty-six million 

 birds existed at one time in this country the 

 number would be multiplied threefold in a 

 season. This army of pigeons would certainly 

 constitute an important item of diet for the 

 wealthier portion of the population, and the 

 encouragement and housing of the birds can 

 be well understood. 



The great majority of the existing Cotes are 

 in a state of decay, though here is a description 

 of one still in preservation. The site is near 

 to where the outbuildings of the Manor-Home 

 once stood, and is now surrounded by trees; 

 this would not be so, however, when it was 

 occupied, as the birds would not resort to a 

 Pigeon-cote in a wood. The Culver-house is 

 octagonal, and of dressed stone; the sides of 

 the octagon in the interior being upwards of 

 five feet. It has twelve rows of nests; the 

 lowest four feet from the floor; with a pro- 

 jecting slab in front as an effectual bar to 

 vermin or other destroyers. The remaining 

 rows have similar projecting ledges, though 

 narrower. The cells which constitute the nests 

 are nine inches in height, and L shaped. The 



