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The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
truth must be told, that the object of many (we do not say or mean all) of these Spitalfields 
contrivances is as much pigeon-catching as pigeon-flying. In the stand behind the area will remain 
hour after hour, flag in hand, many a Spitalfields fancier ; and if, by dint of food, and flag, and 
decoy birds, he can induce one stray pigeon to alight, up go all the doors, and the prize is bagged. 
The bird is probably worth a shilling, and is sold for ninepence the same evening (for as it would be 
off again, it is no use keeping it), and such a prize is thought worth the best part of a day’s work ! 
“ True it is, and pity ’tis ’tis true.” We have, however, nothing to do with the questionable uses to 
which such a “dormer” may be put (except, of course, to condemn them); it has its many legitimate 
uses, and, as the best general arrangement for flying pigeons, must have a place in these pages. 
On each side of the trap-door in front of this Spitalfields area will be observed what are 
called “ bolting-wires.” These are simply little swing-doors, composed of a few wires fixed into 
the little roller which serves as the hinge. The bottoms of these wires, or of the door, rest against 
the inside of the frame of the area, or of a small slip of wood, so that the door will open inwards, 
but not outwards. The need of such an arrangement is obvious : without it, the owner must either 
stay on the watch till all his birds returned, or some of the last must be shut out, to fall a prey to 
thieves or cats ; but these bolting-wires enable late stragglers to come in after all is shut up for 
the night, while they do not allow any pigeons to leave in the morning until the owner pleases. 
