The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-18
CARRIER PIGEONS AND FALCONS IN WAR.

[From the Turf. Field and Farm, Nov III
cable telegram informs US That Prussia, IN be-
Seg1ng The capltai Of France has revived All old
tom. The iarsIans employ carrier pigeons In hold
ing communication with the outside world anu TO
destroy this line OF communication we are told that
The Prussians have called trained hawks into their
service The origin or falconry. or hawking, Is
traced back to the middle OF the fourth century. 1t
once the iavorire pastine OF the nobility on the
Continent and in England, and there was time In
s,on of consecuence Without being attended by IN.
falcOnier, who vas an officer OF eniiDence. In war
like days TINS exclusive sport was often patronized
by the commanders OF the forces trolSSart informs
that when Edward III, invaded France ne had with
hts army thirty falconers on horseback, whose sole
duty was to look after the hawks. The King,
when weary Of the busrle OF camp, woald ride
out into the forests and fields with an escort,
and with the aid Of his hawks indulge In the
pleasures OF the chase. But Bismarck, we believe.
has been the rst TO turn fac0nry TO practical in
time OF war. There was no way to stop the return
balloon but By calling to his assistance trained
hawks. The flight OF the falcon IS amazing In its
which escaped rom him as Foniainbeau and in
twenty-fOur hours after was found In Malta, space
OF not less than 1850 miles Now, as the falcon
hours Tor dayilghI, we have q velocity Of seventy
i've miles an hour. The allowance OF daylight Is
probably too much still 1t Is better TO under es
mate rather Cnan over estimate the performance.
The Night OF the pigeon is also long and rapid but
not equal to that 0i the hawk. While the Que Will
do its hundred miles IN something like two hours
the other Will accomplish the same distance
M only na w M has
6tnctive love Of nome, and, when carried IRON home
and set free, ll the distance u not more than 800
miles, Will swiftly return to the Old nest Man takes
advantage 81 this reeilng ana by entrusting mes
sages 10 the BIRDS brought from home he rests as
suredtnat each message VIII safely be delivered to
friends left behind. An English writer tells u.s.
1.-The courage and love OF home Cr any Of these birds
Is remarkaDe iilaB good Old birds, II Kept III con-
fnenent and bred ilu Tor any length oil Tune very
commonly two years, VIII, when they are let ouC,
leave the place the instant they are AZ liberty ana
forsake mate, eggs and young TO Try and find their
old home. Many Instances are known where cock
and hen from one oit have been SHUT up thus:-fhe
COCK has been let out Whlle the hen has been Sitting
on eggs. 1nis Is commonly DONE because 1t Is well
Known to be Il strong tie TO the bird and prevents
all but good ones nom leaving: but as soon as he
has satisfied himself that his home is 10 be
Tegailed he has rushed into the hem drove
ner or tine nest and OUT, ana BOTH nave
long absence tAe bird nnd5 IT'S old home
pulled down, It's former owner having removed. 1t
Will then hang ABOUT the place, resisting all the
efforts OF the otner pigeon Keepers TO catch II by get
ting II 10 settle vita tner olrds ana entcing Il with
food into their traps IL VIII ia some cases starye
10 death, and often becomes so weak thar II 1t flies
down into the street 10 search for food IL too ex
hausted 10 ny up, ana Is taken IN the hand. When
such bird appears az % place ia tlls way neghbor-
ing pigeon Keepers know Ii TO be OF good KIND and
resort 10 every ariilee TO catch It, In order TO I'M
prove their strain. sometimes, the bird, finding its
home gone, wiiIeturn 10 the place from which IL has
been lei out, mostly ON tie second, but even the
third da5 a'ier The experienced pigeon keeper lets
IL rest for day Two. entices t with little hemp
seed, aud again tets IL out early IN the morning. IL
Is nearly sure 10 leave again, but does not stop so
daily, and ts visits 10 it, old home constantly de-
Crease anti after ieW days they cease aitogetnern
France was poorly supplied with carrier pigeons
OF the breaking out OF lne war; put IL appears that
she has been making the best use oil what she can
command. In belgium pigeon dying is national
amusement AMI II We want toe best pirJs we must
go TO that country for them Pigeons have often
been experimental with In war, nut the perfection
OF tho signal corps has nearly superseded them.
Still there are many cases-such Is the siege OF
Paris, Tor lnSanee-wnere the signal corps is power
less, while pigeons are employed to advantage. In
tunes OF sleges these h0meoying birds are the best
dependence. History tells US that when Modene
was besiegod, Bruus, within the walls, kept
an uninteri uped correspondence with HirtIus with
out, and this by the assistance OF pigeons; setting
at nought every strategen OF the besieger
Antony to stop these winged couriersn
Irochu, at Paris has been following In the steps OF
Bru,us, but Bismarck, II we may believe the de-
spaiches, has devised a plan 10 outwit the French
WIN MS trained hawks he VIII be able TO step the
nghs OF many pigeon ireighted with important
unesIatches from the government AZ Tours 10 the
n n " ,he department OF Defence cooped up in
lnsre WIN be no fierce battles In the clouds
'o :! asty messengers OF the French Will not be
apae W uer resistance against the strong beak aud
sn .alons " the RUSSIAN falcon. But 1t will re-
sa.i iookuut on the part OF the invaders to
discover al the pigeons let loose at Tours in time 10
successfully direct against them the trained In via
or the Prnssian camp We thus see war reviying
the customs OF the past The use OF carrier p,gaons
calls for the use OF falcons, and hereafter traned
birds promise to play an important part in eusrv
prominent siege.