Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-30
DECORATED PIGEONS
How Young Lady Has Adorned Two
Pet Birds She Brought From India.

HAv conceits or fads nave been going the
Ehvrounds Of the press, notably . recent
&M account Of a fan upon which the fair
posssssor had deftly painted portraits
OF friends and notable characters upon the
separate blades But far greater novelty in
the way of feminine fancy was shown . STAR
reporter by young lady Of this city who has
Just returned from India, where she had been
residing some time with her father, who was
stationed there in an official capacity. Her
fancy was pair Of most exquisitsly beautiful
pigeona They are what are known % nut
meg pigeons" one Of the species Of fruit
pigeons" found in the forests Of India, Austria
liza and the islands Of the Indian and Pacific
oceans. The fruit pigeon" feeds on fruit and
berries. The nutmeg pigeon" inhabits India
and ito archipelago; the color is q fine pale
blush gray, with golden green back, wings
and tail. The metallic luster of the plumags
changes with every motion. rvaling the gaudy
hues Of the oriental humming bird These
pigeons feed onnutmegs. figs aad top leaves
OF the cabbage palm. This pair of pigeons are
from thoroughly domesticated flock Of native
1ancier and are characterized by extreme
gentieness and attachment
PRINTED ON THE TAIL FEATHERS.
On the lighter colors of each feather Of the
wing and fan-like tail the young lady (who. by
the way, has considerable artistic talent, hav-
ing also as fad learned to engrave ON wood
has printed in indelible colors by an Indian
process, portraits of friends and eastern nota-
oies, FAC SMILES of signatures and other souve-
MRS. These prints are done in colors to better
contrast with the shade Of the color Of the
leather. The figures are first delicately en-
graved upon lockwood blocks cut to suit the
particular location on the feather, then deity
transferred to the feather in delicately tinted
india Ink. The conceit is purely original with
the owner OF the pigeons, but she says she 10
indebted to the process followed by native ar
lists for suggestions. Besides the loneliness and
beauty OF the pets themselves, the owner has
the pleasure of a thousand memories ever be-
fore her, framed in an irridescent halo at
every motion OF her soft, cooling, living albums
Although" she said, as she affectonately
caressed the beautiful birds, they do not sing,
yet think their soft cooling, as they caress each
other so affectonately, is delightful They are
FAR more intelligent too, than those that we're
only made to please with song. The memory
and love of home Of our common carrier
pigeon is really pathetic, but it was In Per-
sian village that first noticed the extraordi-
nary capacity OF the pigeon for exact training.
TRAINING PIGEONS IN PERSIA
I'm that country in any town Of considerable
size as soon as the evening approaches fanciers
take their focks to the tops Of the fat roofs Of
their houses to fly them. These fancisrs have
often hundreds OF pigeons, constituting their
whole wealth. They breed and train them and
sell the surplus to provide food for their fami-
lies. To each flock there is a leader. educated
to take them around in circles in the air. These
flights at shutdown are very amusing and inter-
esting to watch. The fancier takes the leader
tenderly in the palm of his hand. while the
rest OF the flock throng about him, and gently
throws the bird forward, who then, circling
round and round, first collects his flock and
then wings q wide circuit above the house, and
occasionally high up In air. The fancier
ages and directs them by . peculiar
cry, each fancier having q cry Of his own,
which his birds recognize and obey. On q sig
nal the leader will speed home, bringing the
flock with him. With the focks of pigeons
circlng and circling they will often collide with
each other and the younger and less expert
enced birds will become confused and lose
themselves in u strange flock. Then the vigil
liant fancier will whistle his hock home with
the strange birds with them, when he will at
once capture the prize, which afterward has
to be ransomed or brought back by the fancier
to whom they belong. Crowds will throng the
housetops Of evenings to witness these con-
tests OF skill, each flock Of pigeons being
known to them a. the jockeys colors are at the
race course"
PIGEONS AND DOVES.
Pigeons, doves and turtle doves comprise
one family, and have always been held as en-
blematic Of love and affection. What trusty
messengers they were for Noah when he was
floating around without compass or chart and
had no means OF ascertaining his whereabouts
except through the intelligent medium Of these
home-loving birds. That dear old Italian
countess who some centuries ago devised 20
largo portion Of her fortune as a perpetual
fund to feed the pigeons every day at noon in
the square Of st. Mark in Venice deserved to
be caiendared. To this day the terms OF her
bequest are faithfully carried out, and every
day, just as the sun stands in meridian over
the dome Of old st. Marks. clouds Of the affec-
tiona!e wards OF the old countess swoop down
into the great square fearless of harm or him
drance to gather their perpetual legacy.