The Republican journal., 1916-08-17
The Animals Friend.
The Pigeons of St. Francis.

The Pigeons of st. Francis.
The Lausanne pigeons would have re-
jolced the heart of the gentle saint of
Assist They ''live, move, and have
their being" around the temple dedicated
to St. Francis in the fifteenth century.
1t is pretty sight in the early morning
to see them preening their feathers,
which shine like FURNISHED gold in the
sun.
| A fountain erected against the north
wall of the old church provides their daily
bath, but the front steps of the edifice
itself is where they feel most at home.
| 1t has been remarked that the intelll-
gent little creatures never use the steps
on Sabbath morning, but on that day
only perch high up over the porch and in
the arches of the windows.
They have built their nests everywhere,
under the caves and on the stone stills in
quiet corners. A cabstand just in front
of the church provides many tasty
meal. The audacious birds, knowing
we'll how much they are beloved, do not
hesitate to perch upon the very nose-bag
OF old Dobbin and thus provide them
selves with gratuitous luncheon. Their
ships, provide much tenoer amusement.
They are so tame they fly at once into
the arms of the familiar passer-by,
eagerly on the lookout for bread, rice, and
grain of all sorts. Provender, | must
say, is freely and generously provided,
especially by the little folk.
1t is not unusual to see as many as
dozen pigeons perched upon single per-
son, and when several insist on alighting
upon one arm it requires some fine balanc-
ing and futterlng of wings on the part OF
the birds.
The dog of the sacristan, blinking IN
the SUI, has his side covered with the
graceful little creatures, who warm their
toes in his shaggy hair. Good old Medor,
guardian of the feathered flock!
| think, in Lausanne, the birds are the
most appreciated The laws concerning
them are more adequate than for the pro-
lection of the horse, dog, or cat.
At this season all the newspapers have
big announcements worded as follows:
''Pity The Eirds!
winters cold is upon u.s. The earth
is frozen. Think of the little birds who
no longer find their sustenance'.
The Audubon Society has large mem
bership and distributes an enormous
quantity of literature concerning the
care, treatment, and forethought for
birts during the winter season. Nina
ture Swiss chalets are built for them in
all the public parks, and in the adjacent
small woods outside the city. Cltizens
are recommended to break the ice on tiny
pools that the birds may be able to drink,
to leave the berries on the bushes, and to
no
upon the snow.
Some time ago facetious artist dyed
some of the pigeons In rainbow hues.
A stranger coming to Lausanne often
remarks upon this extraordinarily gay
and vivid piumage, and is invariably told
they are Japanese pigeons | know
IN gullible, for believed it at first!
The last census CT the pigeons made a
total of two hundred and siXty-three.
Sometimes the confidence of these
pretty little creatures is their undoing.
INSCRIPTIONS persons have been known
to have secreted pigeon or two under a
jacket with heartess and cannibalistic
intentions. AS in Venice, the Lausanne
pigeons, while mainly depending upon
the public for support, have also their
purvey or-in-cbief, who sells for sou or
two tiny packets of grain.
1t is interesting to watch the children
feed the pigeons, and to note the different
sentiments evoked. One knows at once
the embryo animal defender. and where
the silly ''don't care-only an ANIMAL
sort of person turks. Whenever l see
young person wantonly scare the flock as
it is peacefully feeding, cooling happily
with contentment, it is all | can do to
keep my temper. For would just like
to administer sound shaking! There
are always groups of interested specta-
tors of the daily routine of life among
these city pigeons, which have really be-
come one of the institutions of Lausanne.
In letter from the Argentine yester
day an animal-Iover asks for the latest
news of the pigeons of St Francis-if the
little Quaker" has built her nest with
"Pierrot," and how fares the Hermit"
and the Rainbow? Dear 'little
brothers and sisters of St. Francis!"
"My kinship with life's myriad forms knew;
Worms in the World Of green, wings in the
world of blue