The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
Carrier Pigeons.

sia, In beseiging tho capital of Franco. has
revived an old custom. The Parisians
employ carrier pigeons In holding CON-
municatiOn with tho outside world, and TO
destroy this line of communication we are
told that the Prusslans have called trained
hawks into their service. Tho origin ol
falconry, or hawking. Is traced back to
tho fourth century. Il was onco the fav-
orito pastime of the nobility on the Cont
nent and In England, and there was q time
in France when the King never rode out
on any occasion of consequence without
being attended by his falconer, who was
nm officer of eminence. In warliko days
this exclusive sport was Often patronizcd
by the commanders Of tho forces. Frois-
sart informs us that when Edward III. In
vaded Franco he had with his army thir-
ty falconers on horseback, whose sole du-
ty was to look after the ehawks. The King
when weary OF the hustle of camp, would
ride out intO tho forests and fields with nm
escort, and with the aid of his hawks In
dulge in the pleasures Of the chase. But
Bismarck, we believe has been the first to
turn falconry to practical use In time Of
war. There was M way to stop the re-
turn flight Of tho carrier pigeons taken
out of Paris by balloon but by calling to
his assistance trainc,l hawks. The flight
of the falcon Is amazing In its swiftness.
Henry W., King of France. had hawk
which escaped from him ut Fontainbleau.
and In twenty-iour hours after was found
In Malta. a space of not les, than 1850
miles. Now, rs the falcon does not fly by
night, and If we allow eighteen hours for
daylight. we have u velocity Of seventy
five miles an hour. Tho allowance Of
daylight. Is probably too much. still 1t Is
better to underestimate rather than over
estimate the performance. The flight of
the pigeon Is also long and rapid, but not
equal to that Of the hawk. While the one
will do its hundred miles In something
like two hours. the other will accomplish
the same distance In about IN hour and q
quarter. Tho pigeon will communicates
only one way. It has strong instructive
love of home, and when carried from home
and set free. II the distance Is not more
than 500 miles, will swiftly return tn the
old nest. Man takes advantage of this
feeling. and by entrllsting messages to tho
birds brought from home. he rests assured
that each message will safely be delivered
to friends left behind.
An English writer tells us /: The cour-
age and love of home of any Of these birds
Is so remarkable that good old birds, II
kept In confinement and bred from for any
length Of time(very commonly two years)
will, when they are let out, leave the
place the instant they are ut liberty and
forsake mate. eggs and young to try and
find their old home. Many instances are
known whers cock and hen from one
loft have been shut up thus The cock
has been let out while the hen has been
sitting on eggs. This Is commonly done.
because 1t Is we'll known tn bea strong
tic to the bird, and prevents NIL but good
ones from leaving but rs soon as he has
satisfied himself that his homo Is to be re-
gained he has rushed into the hon, drOvc
her of the nest and out, and both have
sailed away together. Frequently after a
long absence tho bird finds It's old home
pulled down, the former owner hay
ing rem we'd. It will then hang around
the place. resisting all the efforts Of the
other pigeon keepers TO catch II by getting
Il To settle with their birds and enticing
L with food into their traps. II will In
some cases starve to death, and often be-
comes 50 weak that II It flies down into
tho street IN search for food II Il too sx.
hausted IN fly up. and Is taken in tho hand.
When such bird appears at n place In
this way. ncighboring pigeon keepers
know 1t to be Of good kind, and resor,
70 every artifce To catch Il, In order "a
improve their train. Sometimes The bird
finding It's home gone. will return 10 the
place from which 1t has bosn lot out
mostly on the second, but even on the
third day after. The experienced pigeon.
keeper lets II rest for day or two. entio-
es 1t with n little hemp seed. and again
lets Il ont carly In tho morning. Il Is
nearly suro to leave again. bat does MOI
stop 20 long. and returns before nightfall.
Il Is thon Let out daily. and its visits To Its
old.home constantly decrease. until ailer
few days they cease altogether.
France was poorly supplied with car
rier pigeons at the breaking out of the
war, but Il appears that she has been
making the best usc Of what she can cum
mnnd. In Belgium pigeon flying Il q ma
tioual amusement and u We wsnt the
bost birds we must 20 to thst country "a
Get them. Pigeous have oftsn been OK
perimcntsd with In war. bat the perf6otioa
OF tho signsl corps has nearly superseded
them. Still there arc many cascs--such
a the siege OF Paris for instauoo-whers
tho signal corps 10 Powefle.s, while pig.
cons aru employed 70 advantage. Ia
time of ssigss these home-loving birds ars
tho best dependence. History tells "a,