Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-05

HVt sssenpt w Bys but tuAt IN uos cn'-
hciont proof that he cuts out the duec-
tion Of his travels by sight, but be as.
suredly cannot zee his loft several hun
bred miles away
"Bo bomers ever Fly at night?n
Z" No and yes. In England, accord
ing to Q number of letters which have
received, they claim birds which roam
about several miles after dark on
wsgers. But ] regret TO say ] doubt
the truth OF my informant's state
msnt."
"Suppose a bird loses his bearings
after being caught in q fog"
u lie invariably flies with the wind
until it clears up. Then he resumes
his journey"
How are they prepared for long
fights?"
They are placed in large baskets
and shipped to the race secretary or to
3 responsible person appointed by him.
No name is allowed TO be on the wings
Of the birds except that of the secre-
tary. This is done to prevent any
possible fraud, because If the name OF
the owner were stamped on the wing
some friend al the starting point might
express the birds back TO their destIns-
t,on by rail, and thus claim increased
record for fast travel. The words if
shot or caught, address, " with the &C.
cTetsry's name and residence, with 8
registered number say A.. Il. G., 20.
are generally printed under the birds
wing. so that IN case an accident befalls
the birds the hunter can SEQ at glance
that they had been racing. A man re-
presenting the secretary is generally
put to watch at the birds destination.
and if they succeed in escaping tho
huntsmAn's gun or trap and arrive safe
be records on q printed blank the num-
Der and private mark which were
placed on the wing by the secretary.
After filing up that portion of it be
fills in the time Of the birds arrival.
This blank he retains. In case no
Waterman is appointed at the destins.
ton, as often happens, telegram Is
sent 10 the person who started the
bnds announcing their arrival and
also the registered number, counter
marks, and private signs. As another
preventive agaiDgt false claims the tele-
graph-operator is required to dispatch
TO the starting place the time the mes
sage was given to him. This Is called
8 certified telegram"
- On long distance races, how long
do birds fly without stopping"
Until they are completely exhaust
ed and have to fall to the ground.
They can continue the flight necessarily
for two DAYS, but after that time their
endesvors are useless. When bird
stops from sheer exhaustion It takes
him sometimes as long as 8 week to
hlly recover, and he viii not proceed
uniil be has entirely regained his lost
strength. Herein hes the danger, for
while o bird lies in this state OF col
lapse be becomes the prey Of the
hawk, hound, OF huntsmsn. An H.
stance. in fact, came 10 my nod:e q
few months ago. 4 man on Long Island
was out walking with his retriever
when the latter rushed forward while
crossing an open field and picked up
pigeon. The poor thing was half dead
from exhaustion, and the man took 1t
from the mouth Of the DOG. He ex-
amined it closely and found the name
Arnold on its wing. 1t belonged to
the great fsncie1 Of that name IN this
city, and the man communicated with
him. The reply came by wire and ask
cd him TO keep the bird until 1t got
strong and then let her 60. lie did so,
and the homer arrived on the loft the
same day she was released. Now,
bad this been 8 huntsmSn Of the regu-
lar frame Of mind the pigeons fate
would have been sealed III short order. "
What is tie best l0ng-distance re-
cord at present ?"
lone thousand and fifty miles. 1t
was flown last year by Alabama and
Montgomery, who were then the prop
erty Of Samuel Hunt, Of Fall River.
Mass. They flew from Montgomery,
where they bad been sent by rail, to
Fall River. This was test Of the
homing insiict, and it was grand sue
cess. Alabama is now dead, but Mont
gomerg is IN the loft Of J. +. Husson,
on west Sixtieth street. The next
best distance was also made last year
by Armour, belonging TO A. J. Bald
win, Of Newark, n. j., who has some
Of the finest birds in the country. The
route was from Pensacola, Fla, TO
Newark, & distance or the airline OF
loo miles. Philadelphia mas three
birds which travelled g35 miles last
ear. Red Whizzer Is the champion
Of the trio. When this feat was per-
formed il broke the record Of the
world for distance, and & gold band Of
honor was put on one Of Red VIM
zer's legs. Thin year the long distance
record has not been beaten. A bird
belonging to Charles Mink, Jr., made
the pest showing, but only accomplished
SO miles. Perhaps one Of the best
fast-records for the year was done by
Ariel, Of 7. Brooks, OF Germantown,
who won the ITorl9's purse for best
average speed as miles or over at The
beginning OF the season. His record
was 4jl miles IN nine hours, eighteen
T. Is. Thurber also gave
cash prize for speed. Birds from W.
Il. Garrabrants, Newark Five club, and
Thomas Bowman, Scranton club fin
ished together. The latter consequently
offered prize for the best young bird
flying $50 miles or more. Ii was cap
tured by little fellow from the loft of
Mr.. Iverson, Of the Hudson Homing
Pigeon club. ". Verrinder, of the
Hudson and Newark club, offered a
handsome prize for the best speed 200
miles or over, for old birds, and another
for young birds. These trophies, to-
getber with two others, offered by j.
Z. Hurson for young fiiers, we're won