The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-13
HoMING PIGEONS.
POINTS FROM FANcisRs ON THESE
INTELLIGENT BIRDS.

POINTS FROM FANCsERS ON THESE
INTELLIGENT BIRDS.
Careful Observers Declare That the Birds
FIy b. sight Foar Points In HON.
s- Pigeons which Fanciers cs1sider OF
Prime Importance.
What the peculiar gift Is which en-
ables the pigeon 10 return to ITS nome
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
iy 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 the
London foes. The fact that instinct is
uncfring and that the homing pigeon
not only frequently errs, but exhibits at
times great indeeision as 10 the correct
course for him 10 pursue, seems 10 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 10 "a similar faculty in any
other animal That the bird possesses
high order Of intelligence is shown from
the fact that homers which have become
lost in race viii frequently return tn
the room in which they have been kept
at the starting point of their speed test.
In selecting hcming pigeons for rae
ing purposes even the best faBciers often
pick out birds as most like racers that
cannot e. 90 miles without becoming
lost. The meanest, most scracgy looking
bird, without q single good point. sv,ne-
times leaves its handsome competitor,
who Is, TO all appearances, perfect III
physical proportions, far in the rear.
Still, fGuciCrs look with interest at four
points in hcming pigeon which are
considered Of prime importance. Tho
first C these is, strange as the fact may
appear TO Il novice in the art, the eye
Mr.. Starr, ore Of tho foremost and most
successful Of American fanciors, has
this to sly Of the eye:
1.-The white eye may mean the cumu-
let, and, if 30, indicates that the bird
Will fiy high, have great endurance and
wing power. II the eye is dark, the head
round and the beak short and close fit
ting, there will be preponderaDce Of
the owl type, and the result viii b.
that the bird will fly later at night than
any other type. But. whatever the char
acter of the color, the ball must extend
beyond the line CT TIE bead and be so
placed that the Jird should have view
of what is behind as well as before it.
When bird returns from a journey
over much new territory, this prOtrusion
of the oyeball is greatly increased, show
ing TO what great strain the powers of
vision have been subjected.
While Mr.. Starr, in common with
other successful american fancieTs. pays
little or no attention either to the size
or shape Of the head, this point is the
second ct which European fancieTs look
with interest 1t IS generally concercd
that the shape makes but little differ
enCo. The skull may be fat, long and !
narrow, or high, short ard wide, bat it
must have rCom for the brain, and for "a
large bIain at that, or else tie tird is
not considered a likely candidate for
racing hCnCIs Great stress is LAID o.
this crgan hy all BELGIUM and Holland
faEciers, but in this country TIE feature
is almost entirely overlooked.
The chest should be broad ard is of IS
great Importance as the wing. a mar .
row chestod bird can fly no great dis +
tGrce without oxor,lng the muscles
winch give fullness 10 the ireast beyoLG
their endurance The wings and tai
should 10th DO exceptionally long, as 4
the tail acts as a rudder, ana the short
II wings require much added exertlon |
for the same amount Of flying.
The color Of a pigeon mas Ho signih- /
cance, but the rule in breeding is to .
cross the oolors when practicable.
Even the best bred of the homers
require most careful and intelligent I
training before they are entered III
races. While the physique of the bird is
well developed at the age of 10 weeks,
il Is thought best to give a considerably
longer time for the brain TO develop be-
fore the bird is trained for the work
which lies ahead of him. AT the age Of
mOhlus tne HISt tIlal IrlpS may Db
made, and he is then flown from dis
taEceS Of between and 30 miles ut in
tervals Of two or three days apart.
Many birds are lost in these trial trips,
and those which return safely from the
longer trial tips may be considered f5
TO enter in the young bird races Tie
shortest Of these is 100 miles in length,
and birds are not supposed to be flown
more than so miles before taking part
III 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 tougEened for the longer race
Chicago Chronicle.