74 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 30. 
zontal wood ought to be placed on a level, one over the 
other. We should fix a travers four inches wide, and three 
thick, on the two horizontal pieces in such a manner, that 
we shall have a square frame turning on one of its sides 
(the axletree), whilst the other in turning will make the 
round of the dovehouse, never being more than six or eight 
inches from the nests, if the dovehouse is exactly round, 
which should be the case. The travers or opposite side of 
the axletree must be pierced with round holes 10 inches 
apart, in which we should place ladder-steps, extending eight 
inches on each side, and thus forming a ladder, by means of 
which we may easily visit all the nests without trouble, if, 
whilst one is on it, another person turns it so as to present 
it in front of the nest we desire to reach. 
2. Nest Holders ( fit / 2) are nests which are only made 
2 use of in the aviary. They are 
round, in the form of a plate, but 
never more than an inch, or an 
inch and half deep. They must 
be of different dimensions, in 
order to suit the size of different 
races of pigeons. The smallest 
ought to be five inches wide 
within, and the largest seven. We shall choose them flat 
and smooth on the outside, so as to be able to place them 
level. We must always have double the number of them to 
the pairs of pigeons, because every couple should have two 
at their disposal. In those countries where the clay has not 
sufficient solidity to make a nest as that of Paris, they may 
be made of baked-eartli, without varnish, for when they are 
varnished they do not absorb the damp from the dung of 
the young pigeon : it would engender a multitude of insects, 
and even worms, capable of attacking the young ones. 
Besides, they would suffer materially from always being wet, 
and the least cold would cause them death. These earthen 
nests would be preferable to those of plaster, if they were 
not twice as dear, because they can be brushed out, and 
washed without injuring them; but, however, the amateur 
who would determine to go to this expense, would be well 
recompensed by their durability. 
8. The Water Holder (fig 3) is of baked earth, var¬ 
nished inside, larger or smaller, 
according to the quantity of 
pigeons we have to supply with 
water. This holder is composed 
of two pieces; the watering- 
place, a, and the bottle, b. The 
drinkiDg-place ought to be al¬ 
most the form of an earthen 
vase, that is to say, that the 
middle part should be larger 
than the top and bottom. At 
three inches from the bottom, 
whatever its size may be, the 
middle should be pierced with 
opposite holes like windows, 
through which a pigeon can 
easily pass its head, so as to 
reach the water. These holes 
may be three inches in diameter, 
and more, if it does not injure 
The edges of this drinking-place 
to support the 
' the solidity of the piece, 
j should be a little widened, so as to be able 
bottle maintaining its own level. The bottle is nothing 
1 more than a stone pitcher without handles, and having a 
{ u large middle. Its neck should be long, like a bottle ; the 
length of the neck, and the size of the middle, must be 
1 calculated in such a manner, that u T hen reversed on the 
i watering-place, the orifice through which the water that it 
has been filled with will issue, when at two inches from the 
bottom of the drinking-place, when the middle will support 
it on its sides, and thus firmly fix it. By this means the 
bottom of the water-holder mil always be freed from filth ; 
and as long as there is any water in the bottle it will main¬ 
tain itself at two inches height from the bottom of the 
drinking-place. We must always be particularly careful to 
keep the water-holder very clean, and to renew the water as 
often as possible. In the winter, especially, we must watch 
that it does not freeze. It is advisable to have several 
water-holders in a large pigeon-house. 
4. The Trough (fig. 4), which we shall not describe, be¬ 
cause everybody knows 
what it is, should be of 
a size calculated by the 
number of birds we 
have to feed. The 
manger should be sur¬ 
rounded with a small 
shelf, pierced with se¬ 
veral round holes, 
about two or three 
inches apart, large 
enough for a pigeon 
to put its head through 
easily; it is useful to 
preserve the grain 
from the filth which might fall into it. It is covered again 
with a plank, extending above three nails on each side, to 
present the dirt from falling into the grain. 
5. The Net (fig. 5) is a land of wire net, about eighteen 
inches wide, furnished with a deep wire 
pocket, and hafted on a stick of five or 
six feet. This is used to take the 
pigeons, and particularly the old ones, 
with facility, that we wish to draw from 
the dovehouse; by this means we do 
not pursue them too much, or frighten 
the others. 
G. The Scraping Knives (figs. 6 and 7) are small, 
triangular blades of iron, very much in the shape of a 
mason’s trowel, but hafted by a hole or socket placed in the 
middle of the blade. They are perfectly triangular; they 
serve to scrape and clean the nests, and especially the flat 
surfaces. They are also made with one side of the triangle 
round, instead of straight; these are very convenient for 
the nest-holders. 
7. The brushes which are used to wash and brush the 
boxes in an aviary, in order to destroy the mites and bugs, 
shoidd have a handle of five or six inches ; the hardest are 
the best. Lastly, there ought to be a good quantity of 
birch brooms, very bard, which should frequently be made 
use of; for the prosperity of a pigeon-house depends as 
much on its cleanliness as all the other causes united. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF TIGEONS. 
thirteenth race. 
Cowled Pigeon (Columba cucullata ).—It would be diffi¬ 
cult to conjecture the reason that has determined all orni¬ 
thologists to place these birds in the race of the mixtures , 
whilst there are few pigeons that transmit to their posterity 
forms so pure, and characteristics so prominent and invari¬ 
able. They all have the head, tail, and flight, white; a 
pearled eye, and small ribbon round the eyes ; on the back 
part of the head they have a raised niff' of feathers, hanging 
down to the neck, and extending on to the breast, like the 
cowl of a monk ; this curled gorget is very commonly dyed 
with changeable colours, producing an extremely agreeable 
effect. Their figure is small and elegant; their beak very 
