_Trussing_.--Pigeons, to be good, should be eaten fresh (if kept a
little, the flavour goes off), and they should be drawn as soon as
killed. Cut off the heads and necks, truss the wings over the backs, and
cut off the toes at the first joint: previous to trussing, they should
be carefully cleaned, as no bird requires so much washing.
[Illustration: ROAST PIGEON.]
_Mode_.--Wipe the birds very dry, season them inside with pepper and
salt, and put about 3/4 oz. of butter into the body of each: this makes
them moist. Put them down to a bright fire, and baste them well the
whole of the time they are cooking (they will be done enough in from 20
to 30 minutes); garnish with fried parsley, and serve with a tureen of
parsley and butter. Bread-sauce and gravy, the same as for roast fowl,
are exceedingly nice accompaniments to roast pigeons, as also egg-sauce.
_Time_.--From 20 minutes to 1/2 hour. _Average cost_, 6d. to 9d. each.
_Seasonable_ from April to September; but in the greatest perfection
from Midsummer to Michaelmas.
THE PIGEON--The pigeon tribe forms a connecting ling between the
passerine birds and poultry. They are widely distributed over
the world, some of the species being found even in the arctic
regions. Their chief food is grain, and they drink much; not at
intervals, like other birds, but by a continuous draught, like
quadrupeds. The wild pigeon, or stockdove, is the parent whence
all the varieties of the domestic pigeon are derived. In the
wild state it is still found in many parts of this island,
making its nest in the holes of rocks, in the hollows of trees,
or in old towers, but never, like the ringdove, on branches. The
blue house-pigeon is the variety principally reared for the
table in this country, and is produced from our farmyards in
great numbers. When young, and still fed by their parents, they
are most preferable for the table, and are called _squabs_;
under six months they are denominated _squeakers_, and at six
months they begin to breed. Their flesh is accounted savoury,
delicate, and stimulating, and the dark-coloured birds are
considered to have the highest flavour, whilst the light are
esteemed to have the more delicate flesh.
THE PIGEON-HOUSE, OR DOVECOT.--The first thing to be done
towards keeping pigeons is to provide a commodious place for
their reception; and the next is, to provide the pigeons
themselves. The situation or size of the dovecot will
necessarily depend on convenience; but there is one point which
must invariably be observed, and that is, that every pair of
pigeons has two holes or rooms to nest in. This is
indispensable, as, without it, there will be no security, but
the constant prospect of confusion, breaking of eggs, and the
destruction of young. The proper place for the pigeon-house is
the poultry-yard; but it does very well near dwellings, stables,
brewhouses, bakehouses, or such offices. Some persons keep
pigeons in rooms, and have them making their nests on the floor.
The object is to escape the danger of the young falling out; but
in such cases, there is a great risk of rats or other vermin
getting at the pigeons.
ASPECT OF THE PIGEON-HOUSE.--The front of the pigeon-house
should have a southwest aspect, and, if a room be selected for
the purpose, it is usual to break a hole in the roof of the
building for the passage of the pigeons, but which can be closed
at convenience. A platform ought to be laid at the entrance for
the pigeons to perch upon, with some kind of defence against
strange cats, which will frequently depopulate a whole dovecot.
Yet, although cats are dangerous neighbours for the birds, they
are necessary to defend them from the approach of rats and mice,
which will not only suck the eggs, but destroy the birds. The
platform should be painted white, and renewed as the paint wears
off, white being a favourite colour with pigeons, and also most
conspicuous as a mark to enable them to find their house. The
boxes ought also to be similarly painted, and renewed when
necessary, for which purpose lime and water will do very well.
THE NECESSITY OF CLEANLINESS.--As cleanliness in human
habitations is of the first importance, so is it in the
pigeon-house. There the want of it will soon render the place a
nuisance not to be approached, and the birds, both young and
old, will be so covered with vermin and filth, that they will
neither enjoy health nor comforts, whilst early mortality
amongst them will be almost certain. In some cases, the
pigeon-house is cleaned daily; but it should always be done, at
any rate, once a week, and the floor covered with sifted gravel,
frequently renewed. Pigeons being exceedingly fond of water, and
having a prescience of the coming of rain, they may be seen upon
the house-tops waiting upon it until late in the evening, and
then spreading their wings to receive the luxury of the
refreshing shower. When they are confined in a room, therefore,
they should be allowed a wide pan of water, to be often renewed.
This serves them for a bath, which cools, refreshes, and assists
them to keep their bodies clear of vermin.
BREEDING PIGEONS.--In breeding pigeons, it is necessary to match
a cock and hen, and shut them up together, or place them near to
each other, and in the course of a day or two there is little
doubt of their mating. Various rules have been laid down for the
purpose of assisting to distinguish the cock from the hen
pigeon; but the masculine forwardness and action of the cock is
generally so remarkable, that he is easily ascertained. The
pigeon being monogamous, the male attaches and confines himself
to one female, and the attachment is reciprocal, and the
fidelity of the dove to its mate is proverbial. At the age of
six months, young pigeons are termed squeakers, and then begin
to breed, when properly managed. Their courtship, and the
well-known tone of voice in the cock, just then acquired and
commencing, are indications of their approaching union.
Nestlings, while fed by cock and hen, are termed squabs, and
are, at that age, sold and used for the table. The dove-house
pigeon is said to breed monthly, when well supplied with food.
At all events, it may be depended on, that pigeons of almost any
healthy and well-established variety will breed eight or nine
times in the year; whence it may readily be conceived how vast
are the numbers that may be raised.
[Illustration: CARRIER PIGEONS.]
THE CARRIER PIGEON.--Without doubt the carrier is entitled to
rank first in the pigeon family, with the exception, perhaps, of
the blue-rock pigeons. No domestic fowl can be traced to so
remote an antiquity. When Greece was in its glory, carrier
pigeons were used to convey to distant parts the names of the
victors at the Olympian games. During the holy war, when Acre
was besieged by King Richard, Saladin habitually corresponded
with the besieged by means of carrier pigeons. A shaft from an
English crossbow, however, happened to bring one of those
feathered messengers to the ground, and the stratagem was
discovered, the design of the Saracens revealed, and so turned
against the designers, that Acre was in the hands of the
Christians before the wily Saladin dreamt of such a thing.
PIGEON PIE (Epsom Grand-Stand Recipe).