Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-28
CARRIER PIGEONS.
Their Beauty. Intelligence and Value
wonderful Qualities Illustrated by
swift and Protrssted Flights.

MT. van Opbtai, OF this city, is cred
tied with possessing breed of we'll
trained carrier pigeons, and he is re-
garded as an authority on such. He says
that the most valuable birds at present
in use are called the Antwerp carriers,
which species are a cross between the
owl, or English pigeon and the Belgian
cumulet (or highfyer). The cumulet is
possessed of great "homeing " qualities,
and besides ranks high in intelligence,
while the English carrier is remarkable
for its staying qualities or powers of en-
durance. Therefore. when these desir-
able qualities-endurance and speed
with the homeing" characteristic are
combined in one bird, the Antwerp car
rier is found in the greatest perfection.
Their training commences when the
birds are about three months old. The
initiatory step consists in taking them
about mile from the parents coop and
letting them loose. The distance is
doubled the next time, and so on pro-
gressively. The carrier is larger than
the common pigeon and measures about
fifteen inches in length and weighs from
one and fourth to one and half
pounds. The neck is long and the pee
toral muscles are large. An appendage
OF naked skin hangs across the bill and
continues down either side ofIthe lower
mandible. Those pigeons are considered
the best that have the appendage rising
high on the head, and of considerable
width across the bill, and that are also
distinguished by wide naked circlet
around the eyes. In England it is usual
to keep the birds in a darkened cellar,
where they are sparingly fed, for six
hours previous TO their flight. The
message is usually fastened round the
upper part of the birds leg, but care
must be taken that it is not tied so rs TO
impede the birds fight.
For centuries the carrier pigeon served
a purpose which is now served by the
electric telegraph, and their usefulness
has not yet entirely departed. II is
hhON NAldl lllNot btth6 ilstu Dttu ulll-
lied to carry messages by the Asiatics
and Romans, and during the crusade of
st. Louis they were so employed. Ac-
cording 10 Tasso carrier pigeons were
used in the siege of Jerusalem; and
Ariosto makes the CASTELAR, di Damiata
spread the news of Orrillo's death by r
messenger dove. 1t is well known that
during the last siege of Paris these birds
were employed TO carry messages be-
yond the German lines. Long docu-
ments printed by micro-photography on
films indestructible by water, and
weighing on,y II few grains, were thus
transmitted with great success. Their
conspicuous utility during this memoir
able siege has not been lost sight of by
the French government and other Eu-
ropean powers. In the Jardin d'Accli-
matation, Paris, there are kept some five
thousand carrier pigeons which are
trained TO penetrate into the furthest
recesses of the republic. The different
forts and cities are also stocked with
these birds. Prussia also and other
Continental powers cultivate these aerial
messengers, that they may be utilized
in case of war when telegraphic and
other modes of communication are de-
stroyed. IL is said that the founder OF
the great banking house of the Roths-
childs made the bulk of his colossal for
tune through the instrumentality OF
these heet-winged messengers. To him
carrier pigeons brought the result of the
struggle between the contending hosts
on the plain of Waterloo. Thus he re-
ceived the earliest information Of the
Anglo-Prussian victory and was thereby
enabled to take advantage of the coming
change in the money market.
These aerial couriers are brought &c
the greatest perfection in Europe. In
1873 a sort of international carrier con.
test took place in Belgium. A flock o.
pigeons were let loose in Rome, and thc
distance thence TO Brussels (725 miles,
direct was made in a little less thar
seven days. In 1879 birds were lei
loose from Madrid. and they traversec
the intervening space to their respective
coops in various towns in Belgian
Computed at about $50 miles) in one
week. During the present year other car
riers few from San Sebastian to Belgian
towns and cities (e4O miles) in day ant
a half. This is considered the swiites
time for that number OF miles on record
From Lamothe. France, pigeons mad,
their way to Antwerp in twelve hours
In 1873 six birds, the property o
Messrs. Van Opstal, of this city, anC
Donner, of Brooklyn, were let fly from
Columbus. Ohio, and all returned home
some in good time, the Others at irregu
lar intervals. Two of Mr.. Van Op
stalls and one OF Mr.. Donner's turned
up at the home coop on the second day
1 al a.