The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-02
FLEET AERIAL CARRIERS.
THE USE OF TIE PIGEON AS A
SWIFT MESSENGER.
Habits. Snsurc and Training of INC
Birds Pigeon Flying in Ancient
and Modern Times.


that it is hard to say where it began. In
Egypt their domestication goes back as
far as 5000 years before Christ, aud in
a coronation scene of Ramcsis Ill, the
king is represented as having assumed
the crown of upper and lower Egypt,
and a priest lets fly four pigeons, COM
handing them "to announce to the
south. the north, tho cast and the west
that the son of Iris has put on the splen-
did double crown of the upper and lower
country"
The Romans at one time had the pigeon
craze. Pliny says Of it: Many persons
are insane in their love of these birds.
White ones were the rage if they were
good flyers, and that they were highly
priced may be judged by the prices
which were asked for them. There is
one instance where a good price was Of
fcred for a fine pair, but the owner re-
fused to take less than 400 dcnarii for
them, sum equal in our money to about
500. 1t was their custom to carry
pigeons to theatres and when out walk.
ing, and throw them into the air, rivals
betting heavily on whose bird would get
home first
To become good and reliable they
must be taken from the nest as soon as
they are able to fly, and carried a short
distance away, probably a quarter or a
half mile. All those that get home
quickly are further trained, and the slow
ones are killed. In this way the best
are preserved. When they lind their way
home from short distances they are taken
further and further, until they cover any
6Icto Nvii ha OF T1op
can fly about thirty miles an hour, but
more is sometimes claimed. Instances
are known where they have flown 1000
miles without rest.
AS soon as they are thrown into the
air. they go to a considerable height,
and fly around and around until some
familiar landmark is seen, from which
they take their course and start in a
straight line for home. If no we'll known
mark can be seen they are lost, and often
come back to the starting place. In in.
stances where carriers were let 90 from
balloons and could not find their way,
they have returned to the balloon, as the
dove did to Noah when it could find no
place to rest.
1t is through no love OF Giving or keen
ness Of racing that makes the carrier re-
turn to its cote, but its love of home. 1t
is this instinct that makes it fly with un-
firing wing for hours and hours. to rest
at last in familiar places and among
friends.
Among the Romans, and the Asiatics
before them, it was the custom to tic
letters around the leg or foot, and many
a letter from distant friend and absent
father. or lover, was carried in this way.
Travellers going from Rome, in olden
times, or soldiers departing for distant
wars, frequently carried pigeons, releas
ing them at intervals, that they might
be the bearers oil good tidings to the
folks at home. Tying the message
around the neck or wing had been tried,
but both were found to impede the bird s
flight. At present, when they arc used,
the message is tied around the leg, high
up, where it docs not interfere at all.
In England and France old writer's
speak of the frequent use Of these birds,
both for private correspondence as well as
public, especially in time Of war, when
cities were besieged and there were no
other available means. At such times
the attacking party kept large stock Of
falcons, and it was the duty of the fal,
concrs to keep sharp lookout for carrier
pigeons. As soon as one would be OBJ
served the falcons were let go, and away
they rushed in hot pursuit. 1t is described
as intensely interesting to see both pur-
sucr and pursued cleaving the air like ar
rows; one flying for his game and the
other for his life. The falcons frequently
proved victorious, and would bring the
dead dove back with information OF
great value.
To circumvcnt this the besicgcd some.
times let fly five or six birds at a time,
which bore no message, and when the
falcons were either engaged with these
or too tired to fly fast, another bearing
the letter would be let 60 and run the
gauntlet with ease.
During the siege of Paris this was g
very common way of bearing news, anC
many were the letters which reached out,
side friends and military leaders far be-
yond the walls. Sharpshooters were or
the lookout for them continually, but a!
a usual thing were of no avail. 1t was
in this way that much news reached othe
countries Of the condition within the city
The French, not wishing to encumbc'
the pigeons any more than necessary, il
order that they might enhance tn,
chances of their getting through all right
made very small micro photographs o
newspapers, letters and military orders
the entire budget weighing but few
grains.
The only use they are put to at prcsen
is in flying matches, Birds belonging t
different owners are kept long enough il
the same dove-cote to conceive an attach
ment for it, and then taken long dis
lance away. At this pigeon meet
books are kept with description of eacl
bird entered and who it is owned by
The owners name and the exact momen
of flight are stamped quickly upon tn
vane of one of the wing or tail feather
and the birds sent off At the other enc
of the "hy" a committee of judges ar
stationed to record the incomcrs. 1t i
usually arranged that the entire distanc
may be travelled in daylight, as the bird
are apt to go astray if allowed to fly b.
night. Large sums change hands yearl
in England and France at the pigeon