Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-25
M0NARCHS OF THEAIR.
AMERICAN BIRDS THAT TRAVEL FASTER
THAN THE WIND.
Remarkable Records Made by Carrie. Pigeons in
THIS CounEy-NOtable Endurance and
Instinct Of the Fea,hered
Flyers.
y. J. Natl and Express.

I
cier, "opens up curious study to those
who will take the trouble to note their
peculiarities and actions. They vary in
color, but the chief breeds are all red, red
checkers, all blue, blue checkers, all black,
black checkers, silvers, whites and
splashers. The white are very
rare. | know of only n single pair
at present breeding in this vicinity.
Antwerp, Belgium, is the
paradise of the hOming pigeon. They
make a regular business OF carriers there.
Every fourth person about the city is a
raiser Of pigeons. OF course the majority
of the pigeons brought from Antwerp are
for breeding purposes alone, 1t being gem
orally understood that foreign and domes-
tic birds produce wonderful flyers. They
breed about five times u year sometimes
which 40 other member of the world OF
feathers is capable of.
ANY of the nine different characters of
pigeons which have specified, if tuiored
while young, will gradually develop into
a perfect carrier, with a capability Of trav-
cling from 30 to 500 miles. Frequently
some are so well trained to fly after a year
trial 4 much longer distance. | own two
mates which have flown 700 miles. The
price for birds is rs changeable rs the
heavens. When sold 10 start loft, the
Youngsters, OF Squealers, rs they are APP
propriately termed, fetch from s. to 81 per
pair, and the old ones cost all the way
from so to 500 per set.
"The system employed in training is
quite simple when once understood, but
lately some fanciers have changed this
mode. To start loft person has to take
birds which have never flown ont Of the
coop, because they will be over restless to
return when liberated at any distant point.
The best way to train, IN my opinion, Is
to send them out first on short flies, begin
ming at two or three miles, then seven and
ten, fifteen and twenty, forty and sixty,
100 and 225, 315 to 500 miles. The
short races are chiefly to make them
familiar with the position and
ueiphborhOOd Of their home or loft. 1t Is
rank folly TO start training bird before 1T
has reached the age of at least five weeks.
II should be allowed to fly about the lott
until 1t gets that old. A long bambOOpole
with a noticeable object attached to II on a
string, will be found requisite in rearing
and setting the young in motion. They
will have to fly trihe when frightened,
and in a little time they will know they
are expected to fly, and what is more
they will do it. There should be a trap to
every coop, aud also bob, or rs they are
better known, drop wires. By these means
the trainer can catch any bird he chooses
The Newport Giants are not belleverSin the
policy of gradual training. They take a
Young bird three months old and send 1t on
a lOO-mile trip first. 1.-The fails TO accom-
plish the task they refuse to replace him
i'm the lott and sell him to the adherents OF
the short-distance system.
There is a difference OF opinion among
!anciers as to whether the birds take their
flight exclusively by sight or by instinct.
/ sustain the latter belief, and am positive
no other faculty is employed. How can a
pigeon, which has been expressed on the
,ars for hundreds of miles manage 10 re-
turn to his loft exclusively by sight? 1t Is
true that in rainy weather, or when the at
mosphere is laden with fog, he will not at
tempt to fly, but that Is not sufficient
proof that he cnts out the direction OF his
travels by sight. The bird controls a mar
velous eyesight, but he assuredly cannot
see his loft several hundred miles away.
do komers ever fly at night"
mo and yes. In England, according to
a number of letters which have received,
they claim birds which roam about several
miles after dark on wagers. But l regret
to say | doubt the truth of my infOrmants
statement"
Suppose a bird loses his bearings after
being caught in q fog?"
''He invariably flies with the wind until
il clears up Then he resumes his jour
ney."
''How are they prepared for long
flights?''
They are placed in large baskets and
shipped to the race secretary or to re-
sponsible person appointed by him. DO
name is allowed be on the wings Of the
birds except that of the secretary. This Is
done to prevent any possible fraud, be-
cause if the name of the owner were stamp
ed on the wing, some friend at the start
ing point might express the birds back TO
their destination by rail and thus clam
increased record for fast travel. The
words if shot or caught, address,
with the seeretary's name and resi-
dence, with q registered num-
Der. say A. B. c., 20, are generally printed
under the birds wing. so that in case any
accident befalls the birds the hunter can
see at q glance that they had been racing.
A man, representing the secretary, is gen
erally put to watch at the birds destina-
ton, and if they succeed in escaping the