Importance of Ample Space. 
2 7 
liberty, both high-class and common pigeons, and it was seldom they were then troubled with 
disease ; but of late there has been such a vast increase in the number of fanciers that this has 
become impossible, owing to the strong pairing instincts of the birds. Hence town fanciers 
especially have had to do their best with the space at their command, and we have seen pigeons 
kept in a place hardly large enough for a pair of canaries, so strong are the attractions of the 
“pigeon-fancy.” In such cases, let the birds be flown if possible; if it is not possible, exhaust every 
contrivance of ingenuity to give the very largest flight or aviary that can be managed, and keep very 
few birds. There will be no loss, but gain every way in this ; for we have repeatedly observed 
that one single pair of birds turned loose by themselves in a loft, will bring to maturity in one 
Fig. 14 . — Improved Dovecote. 
season about three times as many young ones as any one pair of birds in a crowded loft belonging 
to the most skilled fanciers of our acquaintance, while all these young ones will be stronger and 
finer birds. The show condition of these few birds will also be infinitely better, and this goes a 
very long way in exhibition, since it is very seldom indeed that the best quality and the best 
condition are both combined. If they are, triumph is certain ; but it more commonly happens that 
those who have the really best birds keep them far too crowded, and will not spend money upon 
a really good loft ; while those who have the best and most spacious lofts generally possess only 
middling pigeons. 
It is most desirable, if it can possibly be managed, that every loft should be, if not perma- 
nently divided into two compartments, so constructed as to be capable of being so, in order to 
allow of the sexes being kept separate during the colder months. With common or flying pigeons 
this is not so necessary ; but the more delicate kinds will often, where this precaution is neglected, 
go on breeding much later than is advisable, to the serious injury of their constitution, perhaps so 
much so as to cause their loss in moulting. For dis-matching birds which are badly paired, and 
for countless other reasons, such division of the loft will be found highly advisable in all cases 
except such as afford, like Mr. Wallace’s, the same facilities in other ways. 
