THE DOVECOT PIGEON. 247 
land. Moreover, the pigeons render him an essen- 
tial service, by consuming millions of seeds which 
fall in the autumn, and which, if allowed to remain 
on the ground, would rise up the following year, in 
all the rank exuberance of weed, and choke the 
wholesome plant. 
A dovecot ought to be well lighted ; and it should 
be white-washed once every year. The tillage 
which it produces may be removed early in No- 
vember, and again at the end of February. The 
young of the dovecot pigeon, like all others of the 
columbine order, are reared in a nest lined by their 
own dung ; which, if left in the hole after the birds 
are gone, is apt to harbour vermin. Wherefore, 
cleanliness dictates its early removal. 
No dovecot can possibly thrive if rats have found 
an entrance into it. These cruel and audacious 
plunderers will destroy every young pigeon within 
their reach. Oust them you must, and preclude 
their return, be the cost ever so great ; otherwise, 
disappointment will most assuredly be your lot. 
The barn-owl and the starling are harmless un- 
offending visitors to the dovecot : they repair to it 
merely for shelter, or for a breeding-place ; so that 
I always like to see them enter mine. It is a lofty 
and a spacious building ; and last season it fur- 
nished seventy-three dozens of young pigeons. The 
walls were made with flues, by the judicious use of 
which we had a very early supply for the table ; 
but, through some neglect on the part of the 
attendant, a fire took place, which threatened 
destruction to the surrounding buildings. In con- 
R 4 
