88 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
reciprocal; the fidelity of the dove to its mate being pro- 
verbial. Young pigeons are termed squeakers , and begin 
to breed at about the age of six months, when properly 
managed: their courtship, and the well known tone of 
voice in the cock, just then acquired and commencing, 
are indications of their approaching union. Nestlings, 
whilst fed by the cock and hen, are termed squabs, and 
are at that age sold and used for the table. The dove- 
house pigeon is said to breed monthly, being well supplied 
with food, more particularly when the ground is bound by 
frost, or covered with snow. At any rate, it may be de- 
pended on, that pigeons of almost any healthy and well- 
established variety, will breed eight or ten times in the 
year; whence it may be conceived how immense are the 
quantities which may be raised. 
The first step towards pigeon keeping, is, undoubtedly, 
to provide a commodious place for their reception, of 
which I shall afterwards speak; the next, to provide the 
pigeons themselves. These will be had in pairs, but if 
not actually matched, pains must be afterwards taken, to 
that end, that no time be lost; indeed, they may be match- 
ed according to the fancy of the keepers, for the purpose 
of varying the colours, or with anj r other view. But it is 
necessary to give a caution on the subject of old pigeons, 
of which a bargain may offer, since the difficulty of retain- 
ing them is so great, indeed insuperable, without the strict- 
est vigilance. Nothing short of cutting their wings, and 
confining them closely until th’ey have young to attach 
them to the place, will be a security; and even after- 
wards, they have been known to take flight with the first 
use of their wings, and leave their nests. I have had se- 
veral examples of this. Thence it is always preferable to 
purchase squeakers, or such as have not yet flown; these, 
being confined, in a short time, well fed, and accustomed 
gradually to the surrounding scenery, before they have ac- 
quired sufficient strength of wing wherewith to lose them- 
selves, will become perfectly domesticated. 
The dove-cote, or pigeon-loft, as to its situation or ex- 
tent, will necessarily depend on convenience, one general 
rule, however, must be invariably observed, — that every 
pair of pigeons have two holes, or rooms, to nest in. 
Without this indispensable convenience there will be no 
security, but the prospect of constant confusion, breaking 
of eggs, and destruction of the young. Pigeons do well 
near dwellings, stables, bake-houses, brew-houses, or such 
offices; or their proper place is in the poultry-court. A 
dove-cote is a good object situate upon an island, in the 
centre of a piece of water: indeed, such is a proper situa- 
tion for aquatic poultry, and rabbits also; and may be ren- 
dered extremely beautiful and picturesque by planting, and 
a little simple ornamental and useful building. Where 
pigeons are kept in a room, some persons prefer making 
their nests upon the floor, to escape the danger of the 
young falling out; but in all probability this is to guard 
against one risk, and incur a great number, particularly 
that of rats and other vermin. 
Cleanliness is one of the first and most important consi- 
derations: the want of it in a dove-cote will soon ren- 
der the place a nuisance not to be approached; and the 
birds, both young and old, will be so covered with vermin, 
and besmeared with their own excrement, that they can 
enjoy no health or comfort, and mortality is often so in- 
duced. Ours were cleaned daily, thoroughly once a week, 
a tub standing at hand for the reception of the dung, the 
floor covered with sifted gravel, often renewed. Pigeons 
are exceedingly fond of water, and, having a prescience of 
rain, will wait its coming until late in the evening, upon 
the house-top, spreading their wings to receive the re- 
freshing shower. When they are confined in a room, 
they should be allowed a wide pan of water, to be often 
renewed, as a bath, which cools, refreshes, and assists 
them to keep their bodies clear of vermin. In the attend- 
ance upon pigeons, caution is necessary with respect to 
their fighting, to which they are more prone than might 
be expected, often to the destruction of eggs or young, or 
driving the weakest away. 
The shelves should be placed sufficiently high, for secu- 
rity against vermin, a small ladder being a necessary ap- 
pendage. The usual breadth of the shelves is about 
twenty inches, with the allowance of eighteen between 
shelf and shelf, which will be sufficient not to incommode 
the tallest pigeons. Partitions between the shelves may 
be fixed at the distance of about three feet, making a blind, 
by a board nailed against the front of each partition, 
whence there will be two nests in the compass of every 
three feet, so that the pigeons will sit in privacy, and not 
liable to be disturbed. Or a partition may be fixed be- 
tween each nest; a good plan, which prevents the young 
from running to the hen, sitting over fresh eggs, and perhaps 
occasioning her to' cool and addle them: for when the 
young are about a fortnight or three weeks old, a good 
hen will leave them to the care of the cock and lay again. 
Some prefer breeding-holes entirely open in front, for 
the greater convenience in cleaning the nests; but it is 
from those that the squabs are likely to fall, thence a 
step of sufficient height is preferable. The tame pigeon 
seldom taking the trouble to make a nest, it is better to 
give her one of hay, which prevents her eggs from rolling. 
Or a straw basket, or unglazed earthen pan, may be placed 
in every nest, apportioned to the size of the pigeons you 
breed. A pan of three inches high, eight inches over the 
top, and sloping to the bottom like a basin, will be of suf- 
