110 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 18, 1858. 
t( kept good faith with their supporters” is another question, 
and lias nothing to do with Mr. Worrall’s statement, that Mr. 
Hewitt’s appointment was “as a last resource.” We now 
finally close this ill-commenced and ill-conducted wrangle.— 
Ed.] __ 
PIGEONS. 
(Continued from page 94.) 
The first division contains the Ring Dove, the Stock Dove, 
and the Turtle Dove; to which I have added a description of 
the Collard Turtle, which, although not a native of England, 
yet is commonly kept in cages, and belongs to this tribe. 
The second division comprises the Blue Rock Pigeon, and 
the Chequered Dovehouse Pigeon. These are both found in 
this country in a state of nature, though, unlike the first, they 
do not inhabit trees, but frequent cliffs, rocks, or ruins. 
The third division includes all those fancy kinds which have 
any distiijpt or peculiar property, which at once separates them 
from all other sorts ; and as some of these have received a 
considerable amount of culture, and have long been held in 
high estimation by fanciers, these four are permitted to enjoy 
the seats of honour as high fancy birds—they are the English 
Carrier, the Almond Tumbler, the English Powter, and the 
Runts. This precedence is, however, only one of courtesy, as 
all the others in this division have, an equal right to notice; 
for the Carrier is only one sub-variety of the Wattled Pigeons ; 
the Almond but one variety of the Tumblers, and the English 
Powter of the Croppers. Of the Runts, there are also many 
varieties. To this division also belong the Fantails, the 
Jacobins, the Trumpeters, and Laughers, the Turbits, and 
Owls ; the Finnikin, Turner, and Smiter ; and those with 
peculiar feathers, as the Frillback, the Friesland Runt, and 
the Silky, or Lace Pigeon; also the Swallow-tailed Pigeon, 
described by Dr. Beclistein ; perhaps the Carmelite, and the 
crested Pigeon, if such a breed does exist. 
The fourth division comprises the Toys, or second-class 
fancy Pigeons. These have but one property, namely, feather ; 
they are decidedly of composite origin, or Dovehouse descent, 
and if they lose their only property, are of no more value than 
the common mixtures, or mongrels, everywhere too abundant. 
Of these I have enumerated about twenty varieties, such as the 
Suabian Spangled, the Porcelain, or Hyacinth ; the Nun; the 
Priests, Monks, and Capuchins ; the Archangel, and White 
ditto; the Spot and White Spot; the Swiss; the Starling, 
Stork, Swallow, Martin, Gull, and Magpie; the Breastplate, 
Helmet, and Shield, and the Ice Pigeon. 
By referring to this form of classification, Committees of 
Shows, or other exhibitions, can at once draw up their lists of 
such as they deem necessary; or, by selecting such of the 
fancy Pigeons as they think worthy of special prizes, they 
might place the remainder in an extra class with the Toys ; 
but I do not think any of these last should be placed on an 
equality with those in the third division, much less before them, 
which is now sometimes the case. 
THE PIGEON HOUSE. 
Yarious are the buildings and accommodations appropriated 
for the breeding of Pigeons. Of some of the more general 
abodes, I will endeavour to give a short description. The 
first I will notice is the dovecot. This is usually a stone or 
brick erection ; the most approved form is that of a circular 
tower, either detached, or placed upon some other outbuild¬ 
ing. The size varies considerably, according to the number 
of Pigeons intended to be kept. The floor should be of stone, 
slate, or paving tiles, and well secured, to prevent the entrance 
of rats, mice, or other enemies of the Pigeons. On the south 
side of the dovecot there should be a wdnclow to admit light, 
and a door opposite by which it may be entered. The nests 
are arranged all round the sides, holes being left in the masonry 
about nine inches, or one cubic foot in size, and furnished with 
a ledge projecting outwards, to serve as a resting place for the 
birds, and also to keep the nest and eggs from falling out. In 
the centre is fixed a swinging ladder, by which access i3 ob¬ 
tained to all the nest holes ; below, it is inserted in a stone, 
and above, in the middle of the beam that crosses the dovecot, 
so that it may be turned round to any side of the building. A 
reference to the accompanying cut will best describe its con¬ 
struction : the roof, either of slate or tiles, is made steep, to 
prevent cats or rats ascending its outside, and the eaves must 
be well secured on the same score of safety to the inhabitants. 
The entrance to the dovecot is from the top, or apex of the 
roof, a sort of shade, or dome, called the lantern, from its 
hearing some resemblance to a large lantern with the glass out; 
the roof of it overhanging to keep out the rain: this is where 
the Pigeons go in and out. Inside the top of this cover is 
suspended, by a cord over a pulley, a latticed frame, which 
fits the opening, and can be let down at pleasure, to shut in 
the birds when necessary. 
The usual occupants of our dovecots are the Chequered 
Dovehouse Pigeons : these feed daily witli the poultry in the 
yard, and pick up a great portion of their living in the fields, 
which consist of scattered grain and innumerable seeds of 
weeds. In first establishing a dovecot, care must be taken to 
shut the Pigeons in for a time, that they may become accus¬ 
tomed to it, and they should be so confined that they may see 
out on the surrounding locality ; this is best done by enclosing 
the lantern in a framework covered with a net, that the birds j 
may know the way in and out. During their confinement 
they must be supplied with food and water in the dovecot, and 
also for some short time after they are allowed their liberty. 
The number of Pigeons kept must depend on the accommoda¬ 
tion for them, and they must never be allowed to exceed the 
number of nests : two nests are absolutely necessary for each J 
pair of Pigeons. This is a rule that ought never to be for¬ 
gotten ; fiu* better to allow three or four nests to each pair 
than a less number; this becomes at once evident when it is 
remembered, that the hen Pigeon generally goes to nest again 
ere the former young ones can fly. During the breeding j 
season, the young birds may be taken from the nests as wanted, ! 
once a week or fortnight, according as they become ready. 
The dovecot should have a thorough cleaning, at least once a , 
I year; the best time is late in autumn, or early winter, when 
' the occupants are not breeding : all the nests should then be 
well scraped out, and the whole cot well limewashed ; a little 
sulphur added to the wash would, I should think, help to 
destroy the tiny vermin which often infest such places, and I 
think it would not injure the birds. I have found lime would 
not destroy the mites in fowl houses, or on fowls, but pow¬ 
dered sulphur banishes them Completely; and, although I have 
had no opportunity of trying it on a large scale among Pigeons, 
I do not doubt it would be found a most useful adjunct.— I 
B. P. Bit ext. (To be continued .) 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Washing Fowi.s—Feeding Ducklings {A Nottingham Subscriber). 
—Any white-feathered fowls may be washed with soap and water, 
Aviped off with a flannel. The birds should be put in a basket Avith 
clean straw, and placed before a fire till dry. Barleymeal is good food 
for young ducks, with any scraps chopped up or mashed : it should be 
put in shallow water. They should not go in the water the first fort¬ 
night. 
