Gravel-box and Bath. 
* 'y 
provide a continual running stream of water, and of course such, wherever possible, will supersede 
both fountain and bath ; but very few can afford such a luxury, and a good fountain, kept clean, 
will answer all purposes. 
Besides food a-nd water, pigeons require a supply of gravel, with which should be mixed some 
old mortar. The best mixture is composed of good coarse gravel, old mortar roughly pounded, 
and some soft loamy earth or mould. Unless pigeons are supplied constantly with this, they 
speedily begin to mope about and become very loose in feather. The best receptacle for it 
is a box shown in Fig. 19, made with the slanting cover so frequently mentioned by us in connection 
with other fixtures, in order to prevent any birds perching on the top soiling those below. The 
opening in the side should be about four inches off the ground, so that the pigeons can get their 
heads in when standing on the floor ; and if there be an opening and slanting lid both sides, so 
much the better. Instead of gravel, some fanciers prepare a salt-cat, as it is termed, for which 
various recipes have been given, some of them very offensive. Others give salt in a pan 
separately ; but salt does not suit all birds, some being so fond of it as to take hardly anything 
Fig. 20 . — Bath for Inside Loft. 
but salt and water, and becoming nothing but bones and feathers — a condition very difficult to 
remedy when once it is established. On the whole, what we would advise is a mixture made as 
follows, by measure: — Two parts sharp gravel, one part loam, one part old mortar pounded, and 
one part coarse salt. This should be mixed together dry, and put in the box, when the pigeons 
can hardly take more salt than is good for them, and will be kept in fine condition. We have for 
years used this mixture for our own pigeons, and can confidently recommend it as equal or 
superior to any salt-cat that can be ma’nufactured. 
Pigeons clean themselves by constantly washing in water, not by rolling in the dust like 
fowls ; and tequire the continual enjoyment of this luxury to keep them in health. Fig. 20 
represents a bath so contrived a; to enable the fancier who has no open flight or aviary to 
keep it in the loft without wetting the floor, a sloppy mess being very injurious both to health 
and condition. It is made of zinc, about four inches deep, and has double sides, so as to resemble 
one pan within another. The sides are also furnished with stays, to prevent them bulging out 
with the tveight of the water. The use of this arrangement is obvious ; the birds in washing splash 
terribly, and the outer wall catches the water splashed out of the inner, and saves it going on 
the floor. To the many who are obliged to keep their birds confined in a room we can con- 
fidently recommend this pattern of bath ; but for those with an outside aviary it is needless, and 
the inner pan alone will be sufficient. A brick should be placed at the side for any small or 
