The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-18
HomlNe PIGEONS FLY BY SIGHT.
So Believe the Most Careful Observers Of
Their Long Journeys-

So Believe the Most Careful Observers Of
Their Long Journeys
What the peculiar gift is which en-
ables the pigeon to return to its home
from great distances is matter upon
which authorities disagree. The most
general opinion among those who know
anything of the subject is that the birds
fly by sight alone. This theory would
seem to be borne out by the fact that
the best and most highly bred Of racing
birds have frequently been lost in Lon
don fogs. The fact that instinct is un-
erring, and that the homing pigeon not
only frequently errs, but exhibits al
times great INDIGESTION as to the correct
course for him TO pursue, seems to pre-
clude the idea that he is governed solely
by instinct. The theory which is most
generally accepted is that the bird is
gifted with remarkable eyesight, and
also with q memory for landmarks
which is superior to a similar faculty in
any other animal. That the bird pos
sesses high order Of intelligence is
shown by the fact that homers which
have become lost in a race will frequent.
" return TO the room in which they
have been kept at the starting point OF
the speed test
In selecting homing pigeons for rae.
ing purposes, even the best fanciers
often pick out birds as most likely
racers that cannot fly 20 miles without
becoming lost. The meanest, most
scraggy looking bird, without single
good point, sometimes leaves its hand
some competitor, who is, to all appear
ances, perfect in physical proportions,
far in the rear. Still fanciers look with
interest to four points in a homing
pigeon which are considered of prime
Importance. The first of these is,
strange as the fact might appear 10 q
novice in the art, the eye. Mr.. Star, one
of the foremost and most successful OF
American fanciers, has this to,say of the
eye:
''The white eye may mean the cumu.
let, and if so, indicates that the bird will
fly high, have great endurance and
wing power. If the eye is dark, the
head round, and the beak short and
close-ftting, there will be a preponder-
Iance of the owl type and the result will
be that the bird will fly later at night
than any other type. But whatever the
character of the color, the ball must ex-
tend beyond the line of the head. and
be so placed that the bird should have
a view OF what is behind as well as be,
fore it. When q bird returns from q
Journey over much new territory, this
protrusion of the eyeball is greatly in
creased, showing to what great strain
the powers Of vision have been subject
ed"
While Mr.. Star, in common with
other successful American fanciers,
pays little OF no attention either to the
size or shape Of the head, this point is
the second at which European fanciers
look With interest. It is generally con-
coded that the shape makes but httls
difference. The skull may be fat, long
and narrow, or high, short and wide.
But it must have room for the brain,
and for large brain at that. or else the
the bird is not considered a like.
ly candidate for racing honors. Great
stress is laid upon this organ by
all Belgian and Holland fanciers, but in
this country the feature is almost ems
tirely overlooked.
The chest should be broad, and is Of al
great Importance as the wing. A mar
row-chested bird can fly no great dis
tance without exerting the muscles
:, ;.,I f,,l1 80 !, -
their endurance. The wings and tail
should be both exceptionally long, a.
the tail acts as rudder and the shorter
wings require much added exertion
for the same amount of flying.
The color of a pigeon has no signih-
canoe, but the rule in breeding is to
cross the colors when practicable.
Even the best bred of the "homerss
require most careful and intelligent
training before they are entered in
races. While the physique OF the bird
is well developed at the age of ten
weeks, it is thought best 10 give a con-
siderably longer time for the brain to
develop before the bird is trained for
the work which lies ahead of him. Al
the age of four months the first trial
trips may be made, and he is then flown
distances of between two and ninety
miles, at intervals of two or three days
apart. Many birds are lost in these trial
trips. and those which return safely
from the longer trial trips may be con-
sidered fit 10 enter in the young bird
races. The shortest of these is 100 miles
in length, and the birds are not sup
posed to be flown more than 90 miles
before taking part in the speed trials.
For the young birds the system OF
training is supposed to accomplish two
widely different results. In the first
place they teach the young bird to re-
turn to his loft, and in the second they
develop the muscles and prepare them
for the hard work which the races will
require of them. Training trips for old
er birds are made with the sole view Of
getting their muscles limbered up again
and toughened for the longer races
Chicago Chronicle.
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