10 
with netting and put up with spring hinges. The latter are very 
important for they secure promptly self-closing doors, thus effectually 
preventing the escape of any valuable “homers” which may have 
been brought from a distance and which, if permitted to gain the free 
air, will immediately fly to their former homes. Brackets are nailed 
to all the posts 4 feet from the ground and boards 4 inches wide are 
nailed to them to furnish the pigeons a place to alight and walk when 
not in flight. These boards are placed at the ends of the sections as 
well as along the sides. No cross boards or roosting poles are per¬ 
mitted to obstruct the clear passage, for if they were used, birds 
might injure them¬ 
selves when exercis¬ 
ing or in trying to 
escape from the 
keeper in his neces¬ 
sary attempts to 
catch certain birds. 
The birds are al¬ 
lowed to pass from 
the house to the fly 
through an opening 
in each section 3 
inches wide and 4 
inches high, rounded 
at the top, with a 
lighting board 6 
inches wide on either 
side. Slides are ar¬ 
ranged to close these 
openings when it is desired temporarily to confine the birds in either 
fly or house for the purpose of catching any one, or in severe weather. 
The cost of the house 12 by 40 feet in size, well painted outside and 
whitewashed thoroughly on the inside, with materials at present 
prices, is $>250. It is safe to estimate the cost of houses at $1 per pair 
of birds, not counting the earthen dishes used for nests. 
For beginners who desire to start with 25 pairs or less, temporary 
structures can be improvised or existing buildings utilized until suffi¬ 
cient experience has been gained to enable them to branch out. 
177 
