Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-31
TIE noMlNo PIGEONS.


sonished at its remarkable strength Of
wings ? ringing slap from one OF the
softly feathered appendagc5 proving
an effectual means OF defence. And
then too these lovers OF home have
such bright intelligent eyes-eyes
that can see an immense distance fully
300 miles in clear weather With
their broad, prominent skulls, giving
them a very wise and knowing look,
Che homers snap their expressive
ayes as II they knew all about the
messages they carry so faithfully and
felt themselves TO be very important
birds indeed.
In appearance they resemble the
sommon wild American pigeon more
than do an others Of fancy breed
They arc mostly blue in color but
shore ara man, varieties that are
black, ard some Of notified tints,
known as "red checks ana blue
sheczs"
There are A. 900 or s 900 homlug
pigeons In Baltimore says the Bati-
more Sun, owned by nearly $50 fanci-
a. dealers but mainly for pleasure
No enthusiast Ia more enthusiastic
than the pigeon enthusiast tnd the
hours Of hard work spent In the lofts
looking after the comforts Of She in
mates OF the dovecote, after the real
work Of the day is done are counted
as the brightest spots in tho day and
a.. .I-.
proudly about on The happy feathered
family Strangely assorted a Che mem
bers OF the pigeon clubs may be they
oil meet on n common ground when
sheir favorite pursuit IL in question
BE magic word pigeon" serving as
an open sesame TO tho heart OF doctor
lawyer. merchant clerk, mechanic
aay laborer or gentleman OF leisure
pigeonly inclined. Men who might
70 throughlife and neyor come should
sr TO shoulder In the ordinary course
Of events pore together over pigeon
lore with enthusiasm aud the one who
y chief Of air. is he who has the
deepest knowledge OF pigeon aising
or he whose pet bird has beaten the
FtNoia IN inc lulQ-h races
On several occasions Baltimore bred
homers have made the best time and
tho longest runs in important races,
winning cups aud medals for their
happy owners Three or four years
ago there was greater interest taken
IN pigeon races thna at present the
clubs Offering prizes for the winners.
Baltimore owners do not now belong
10 any federation. and consequently
have not the Same opportunities OF
testing tho racing qualities Of the
homers raised by them
The usual manner OF marking a bird
sent on special races is to attach
meta, band to Its leg containing the
private number and letter OF the own
er. When the bird is liberated nj the
specified station tho liberator imprints
on one wing Of the pigeon by IA rubber
stamp a special countermark. On
reaching the home loft the birds
oouutermark is examined by the aren't
OF the federation who notes the time
of arrival and compares # witch the
entry 81 tho liberating station.
When an owner expects the arrival
OF one Of his birds he shuts up all of
the other pigeons, and the wanderer
is froe 90 entcr uudisturboa Outside
OF the loft Il shelf is constructed. con-
Meeting with wire coop. The in
slant the bird alights on the shelf 10
presses on q spring connecting with a
gong or electric bell announcing the
arrival TO the eSpeotunt owner Once
inside the coop, tho bird cannot get
out the little swinging door opening
only from the outside. The paper
used for messages is tied to tho birds
ieg near the thigh or to wing quill,
and does not hurt nor impede it's
progress 1t is OF fine, strong, light
tissue In tho Franco Prusslan war
observations were taken from bal
loon md information dispatched from
It by pigeons who bore on their legs
messages written ON delicate gelutiue
films so thin that IL took 8, GOO OF
them to make an inch in thickness.
The only safe way is 20 buy % pair OF
homing pigeons and mate them. The
old birds will have 10 ho kept prison
ers ain their life, but tho young ones
will consider themselves naturalize6
children of em.grant paTvats The
young birds are given the freedom OF
the loft three or four months. ANA then
arc given their first "Wmp." They
are liberated at FIRST u, q short dis
tauco from Che 'nft perhaps five or six
m Haas FHtf. Fty,rt.a In f41a, mud trr..l