The sun., 1894-10-30

Most OF Them Are Intended for Racing snd
Not Tor CARRYING Letters.

Not Tor tsrrving Letters.
ANY bright sunday morning pedestrians cross
ing the Brooklyn Bridge may have their curios-
itv aroused by n man with an OblOng paper box
with n perforated lid. When he reaches
suitable spot he sits down. puts the box on the
seat beside him, and consults n heavy gold
watch Presently lie raises one corner OF the
box lid. slides his hand cautiously in, and draws
out u carrier pigeon. After smoothing down the
birds feathers In deliberate and leisurely
manner. the man takes ont the gold watch
again. puts IL back into his pocket and tOsses
the bird mp into the air
The bird rises swiftly 10 q height Of several
hundred feet darts with seeming rCcklcssness
first in one dircctoa aud then in another. and, nt
length getting its bearings. sails away with the
velocity of an arrow and Is soon lost To view.
The man watches its behavior with Indifference
until 1t settles upon its course, when he again
turns his attention to the heavy gold watch.
This he consults from time to time until he re-
leases another bird The same manTuvres are
rrpeate ed until probably half dozen birds are
set at liberty. when the man takes up his paper
box and walks away Before this happens he
has to answer many questions. One Ot the most
common is:
"Wiii il come back"
To which his invarahlc answer is:
oh. Ccrtainy-come right back and come
The mans business is the raising and training
of carrier pigeons, CIlpnN lOf rNtlUE. As eNn
bird is released he makes n record Of the time
The cote is in Fintbush. There another man
keeps watching for the arrival of the birds and
times them accurately. Then, when the first
man reaches home, notes are compared
and the time made by each bird IS ascertained
Two or three trials like this, under tnNurahlc
conditions. will determine pretty fairly the
/ ability ufeach bird. just as n jockey determines
the speed of n horse by successive trialsoNer the
The races for which the birds are entered are
/ not unlike those IN which four-1ootcd coursers
aLn While the nyiup mowers of the Fiat
I bush birds are being tested. other men In vari-
cus parts Of the country are tryihg tGlr pg priG @
on the day OF the race, he pittcd against one
enother , -. . -,
= fairly approx Ximated for the benefit OF the un-
/ initiated by the tests from the bridge 70 rat
/ bush This distance IL n tr.hc more than five
miles and the time consumed in the fight varies
! from five to seven minutes. II bird takes more
tn" @ slow. t 0ccasionaiiy bird is found that will
wing the distance in Il few seconds. or fractions
Of u second, less than the minimum time. IN
which case II Is declared record breaker, n sort
| of fcathCrcd Nancy Hanks, and ~ soon as IT'S
record become. known among the racing frater-
nifty its owner finds difficulty In making matches
except in flying his bird agai nSt time. ,
1t might be thought by the nnini,iaied @ that that
| n race, or flight. as II is termed, of THIS KIND
could not be otherwise than honest; that such a
| thing rs pulling IA iaroritr woulu nc OUT oi
! the question: but in this they would he mis-
taken. The professional flyer j. as full Of guile
rs the average Jockey, and understands thou-
sand tricks by which birds hight may be re- re-
| tar,icd to the extent Of few seconds or SUM-
clent to throw down" the heavy bett2rs; II Is
said that an iniinitosimal bit Of cnhhler's wax
| stuck uron the undcrSilc of the pigeons wing
will slightly impCd" its hiIh;, hut not suthcicnt-
! ly to create or excite suspicion. \ less ingeni-
! Gus and more hazardous method Is tn pluck q
: wing feather, but this trick would he lrsorteti
| to only hy II more reckless flyer, and under the
| most desperate circumstances.
In the training of young birds the greatest
| skill and caution must he exercised. First oil
all. bird must bc in prime condition before II
is subjected to IA flight Of any distance; It's mt
| ness is shown by several signs familiar to the
expert. \ bird in good form l. indicated by the
smooth lay Of the feathers and erect pose OF the
head. n brightness of. and absence of film in the
eyes and above all, quick. nervous action. and
| constant movement 0f the head; \ thoroughly
sound md ambitious bird will usually have
clean feet. The next important point IL TO avoid
| oyerwOrking bird. Once a bird becomes
| fr.iVueh IL grows discouraged, and Will make
| no further effort NJ flight than TO reach tht
I nearest pcrch, and what might. with proper
| training. have been developed into high,clas'
| flyer, may thus he permanently spoiled ny aT
| over-ZenlOus or reckless trainer.
| Pigeons ARE never trained TO carry letters ~
| packages unless specially ordered. and such
orders are rare. The principal use to which pur
chnscrs devote the birds IL racing. or lying foI
sport, and popular has this new sport be
| come that the raising and training OF sporting
pigeons is a lucrative business.