The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-15
H0MING PIGEONS.
HOW THE AERIAL MESSENGERS
ARE BRED AND REARED.
Organization OF the Kings County
Homing Pigeon Club - Re.
markable Flights Made
by Local Birds

Brooklyn, in addition to being the
third city In the Union, also occupies the
third place in the cultivation and breed
ing of the homing pigeon. Philadelphia,
probably, contains more homing pigeons
than New York and Brooklyn combined.
1t is only in recent years that breeding
of these wonderful little birds was intro
duced in this city, and the industry, If
such it may be called, is but fifteen years
old in America. Belgium was the first
country to discover the many uses to
which the homing pigeon might be pat
and the cultivation of the bird there al
most equals that Of the canary. Millions
of canaries and pigeons are bred in Ger
many yearly. Germans are fond of birds
of all sorts and take much pleasure in
rearing and attending to their wants.
Our Teutonic neighbors have brought
many of the customs of the Fatherland
with them, but none to which they stick
more closely than the breeding of homing
pigeons.
MIR. NJ. 2. Mcguire, a member of the
Kings County Pigeon Club, is an enthu-
siastic breeder of homing pigeons. MIR.
Mcguire has loft containing thirty
birds which are largely on the increase.
He takes great pride in keeping his loft
in clean condition. When visited the
loft was closed, its inmates being inside.
Mr.. Mcguire carries on breeding on .
large scale. Birds three or four weeks
old are called squealers. Many of these
were to be seen in the Mcguire loft.
Young birds at first are not able to use
their wings. They are carefully trained
step by step, however until they become
full fedged homing pigeons.
Last summer dozen or more birds
belonging to Brooklyn lofts were liber-
ated at New Orleans, distance of 1, $50
miles. None have returned and it is
thought that they have lost their bear
ings, or have been shot.
At this season of the year pigeon fan.
ciers are troubled by sportsmen who
shoot the birds. thinking them wild.
All racing homing pigeons have num-
bers and the addresses of their owners
stamped on their wings. Sportsmen
who shoot them in mistake are requested
to notify their owners. Many birds, after
having successfully journeyed 500 miles
or more, have been killed when within a
short distance Of home. HomiDg pigeons
ay high. When taken out Of their cages
far from home they fly upward until
nearly out of sight, when they make in
the direction of home. The only danger
homing pigeons experience from the
sportsman's gun is when they become
tired and descend to rest.
When in transit their fight is 50 high
that no gun can reach them. Pigeons
have been known to fly toward home in
the face of a strong wing, which at times
equaled q hurricane in velocity. They
appear to ascend until q favorable air cur.
rent is reached, when their little bills are
turned in the direction of the loft to
which they belong.
1t costs little to raise and keep homing
pigeons. They eat but little, and are
dainty in their food. They live on Can.
ada peas, wheat and small kernels Of
corn. The homing pigeons chief char
acteristic Is its love of home. It can
never be prevailed upon to give up its
rest in loft if the latter remains intact.
It does not appear to have the affection
for its young which Is to be seen in other
members Of the feathered family. A
pigeon will not neglect its offspring, but
yet it does not seem to be particularly
solicitous as to their welfare. Homing
pigeons lack decision, and frequently
when first liberated take other directions
than the one toward home.
The service performed by homing pig
cons was 80 great during the Franco
Prussian war that birds are now trained
for military purposes in Germany. There
is no doubt, had not the telegraph or
telephone been invented, but that hom-
ing pigeons would have been the mems
of communication between cities. Mes
sages sent by pigeons are written on tis-
sue paper of the thinnest description.
During the recent national yacht races a
local paper used the birds of Mr.. Henry
Rover to carry dispatches from the
Judges boat to the newspaper Office.
Pigeons have of late years been used on
the stage to add realism to certain scenes.
They are also used by business and
professional men for various purposes.
Pigeons have been known to fly long
distances at the rate Of 50.4 sec
onds to the mile. Mr.. Goodman,
of Brooklyn, has bird which made the
distance from Abingdon, Va, 500 miles,
in a day. When pigeons are sent on long
distances, say from 500 to 1000 miles,
they sometimes lose their reckoning and
fail to return. Some have been given
up as lost, but after sixty or ninety days
they have returned safe and sound. A
mans statement in regard to the per-
Torrance of his bird is not taken in .
race. In races each fancier has friend
watch at his rivals loft, so as to time the
arrival of the birds.
Races are seldom, or never, made for q
money consideration. Occasionally sill
yer cup is won as the result of a race,
but usually pigeons are raced by their
owners from simple love of the sport.
But few pigeon fanciers realize anything
from the sale of their birds. Breeders
are worth S. per pair and young birds
bring 81 per pair. Many pigeons suffer
from indigestion and pills are made to
relieve their ailment. Old an dtried racers
bring fancy prices. Some birds of this
description have sold as high IS 500
each. Brooklyn Eagle.
Danger from Swordfish,