i8 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
They should be sufficiently heavy to give no fear of overturning under the weight of the birds 
perched upon them. For lining the nest, nothing can equal good pine sawdust. Straw, hay, or 
matting always harbour vermin ; but if only sawdust be employed in the pans, and also kept to the 
depth of an inch over the whole floor of the nesting-places, while these last and the nest-pans 
themselves are well painted with good oil paint, there will be hardly any trouble from insects at 
all. Sawdust should also be spread over the whole floor of the loft, to the depth of at least half an 
inch. This depth is necessary, because if spread too thinly, directly any of the birds rise to fly, or 
even flap their wings, they will blow it all into places on the floor, besides causing it to enter the 
eyes of other birds, and thus producing inflammation ; but if kept half an inch deep none will rise, 
but all will lie “dead ” on the floor. Strewn in this way, nothing is so warm to the feet of the pigeons, 
nothing keeps them so clean, and nothing gives so little trouble ; for unless far too many birds are 
crowded together, it is only necessary to use a rather fine garden rake once, or at most twice, a 
week over the top of the sawdust, to remove all the droppings, and have the floor nice and clean 
again ; while it will only be needful to renew the sawdust itself once in every five to eight weeks, 
according to the number of the birds. We are, as before, supposing the loft not overcrowded ; 
Fig. 5. — Nest- pan. 
if there arc too many birds the sawdust must be renewed oftener. Such use of sawdust on the 
floor and in the breeding-boxes is a sure preventive of insect vermin, unless the loft itself be put 
up so roughly as to give the insects harbour in the walls. This is easily prevented by smoothing 
all inside work off, painting the nest-boxes and pans, and occasionally white-liming the interior of 
the loft itself. Ticks, lice, fleas, &c., are dreadful torments to pigeons when allowed to accumulate, 
which is always the case if the droppings are allowed to remain in heaps, as is so often the case ; 
and many fanciers will hardly believe that they can be so easily set at defiance by such simple 
means. We can, however, state positively that such is the case. 
If sawdust cannot be had, the best substitute is good gravel. Even this will be found some 
check upon insects, though it will not prevent their appearance ; but it is very far inferior to the 
sawdust in all respects. We hardly need state that the sawdust, when finally removed, makes 
capital manure. The droppings themselves if sifted clean, are generally gladly purchased by 
tanners, and also by florists, who soak them in water to employ as liquid manure. 
Whether the plan here described, or any other, be adopted, the loft should if possible 
front to the south, as pigeons always thrive much better with a southerly aspect ; and if it 
can be managed should open into an aviary, or “ flight,” as pigeon-fanciers call it, enclosed with 
wire-netting. This is not absolutely necessary if the loft be tolerably roomy, well-lighted, and 
amply ventilated without draught ; which last is highly important, for pigeons are nearly all 
perfectly hardy as regards cold, and will care for themselves as regards rain, but are tender — 
at least high-class varieties — in regard to draught. But if an open flight can be given, say 
for six, nine, or twelve feet out in front, it will be much better; in which case a moderate-sized 
window to the loft will be sufficient, and there may be two holes cut in the doors, four and a 
