The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
GREATEST BIRD MARKET.
Many Delusions About the Speed OF
the Feathered Tribe DispelIed.

Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
More birds are sold every year in Pitts
burg than in any other city in the United
States and probably in any other city in
the world said Frank Relish, a we'll
known bird dealer OF st. Andrewsburg,
Germany. Mr.. Relish has been in the bird
business for the past eighteen years and is
a good judge OF birds. He has Travelled
all over the world In search OF the best Of
the feathered tribe. He handles nothing but
first-class stock, and these are shipped
to all the large cities in the world. 81 have
Travelled all over both continents said Mr..
Relish, land find Pittsburg the best market
for my goods, and most OF the birds sold
here are strictly first-class stock. The
best seller is the canary that is brought
from Germany, and the number of this
class Of birds that Is sold is surprising
yearly. They are not very expensive. as
you can buy fair bird for 50. while have
sSlS sSme b, for high as s. The
European nightingale, but there are very
few of this class sold in America. They
are very scarce in Europe and when we
ship them to America, after all the trouble
we have In capturing them, We cannot sell
them for less than $50 They are not a very
large bird and the American people think
the price is entirely too high, and conse-
quenty we do not sell many, but we can
not lower the price, as we experience
great deal of trouble In getting the class
that the American people want.
The parrot season is almost at a close
now, and 1T has been one Of the best years
In this line that have ever witnessed. In
fact, the sale OF all classes of birds has
Increased wonderfully during the last few
years; but 1t was more noticeable In the
parrot line. i sold q parrot to a woman
in Pittsburg not long ago for $500, and
ro0t AF% IL to-
late. for l realized that i could have got
more for it. 1t was Of the single yell
low-head breed and was captured some time
ago In Mexico, which is the best country
for this class OF birds. There is another
woman In Allegheny who has a parrot OF
the same breed, and L offered to give her
$500 for it, but she refused my Offer and
short time afterward the bird lost its
sense of hearing by being scared by the fire
department. passing the house. There is
very peculiar thing in the raising of par
rot l can go to Mexico and capture one
OF the finest looking parrots that lives. but
cannot get very large sum for 1t, because
1T cannot talk; but IL would certainly take
the prize at bird show fof its appear
ance.
''If you want to obtain a parrot that is
good talker you must capture IL when
young and train IL. If they are captured
when quite young and trained in the proper
manner they will learn very rapidly, 9TH
erwise they never amount TO much.
have been In every part of the country
and find no better place than Pittsburg for
the sale of high-grade birds. / expect TO
leave In few weeks for South America
and return later with a good selection of
birds and feel positive they will find
ready sale in Pittsburg."
Recently American, German and French
observers have been comparing notes and
are practically agreed on the speed of the
best known birds. They started with the
carrier pigeons and have made it the basis
OF their comparison. The carrier pigeon
has heretofore been credited with 100 miles
= lie
titled 10 but fifty miles an hour. A recent
carefully conducted contest of SOP miles
from the Shetland islands to London showed
that the most rapid pigeons made thirty
seven miles an hour On shorter distances
none made more than fifty miles an hour.
Because frigate birds have been seen far
from land and have been supposed not TO
fly by night or TO rest on the water, they
have been credited with $50 to 200 miles an
hour. II they did fly at that rate they
would have to overcome an atmospheric
pressure Of about 1l2 to 120 pounds to the
square foot OF. flying surface. There is no
certainty that thew fly more rapidly than a
passenger pigeon, or that they do not fly
at night, or do not sleep on the water.
THE sparrow, which Is indeed a rapid
flyer, has been credited with $50 miles an
hour, but he must be cut down to sixty
five miles and the martin is five miles be-
hind him. although authorities have placed
him ten miles ahead The teal duck is
brought down from no miles TO fifty miles
am hour, the mallard is five miles slower
and flies at the same speed as the canvas
back, while both OF these are five miles
ahead of the wild duck and the elder duck
The pheasant makes thrty-eight miles
an hour, which is three miles ahead of the
prairie chicken and quail. though the quail
appears to fly much faster. on account OF
his temporary burst of speed, which sell
dom exceeds 200 feet. The crow flies about
twenty-five miles an hour.
Small birds appear to fly more rapidly
than larger ones and have deceived many
observers. The humming bird does not fly
as fast as many of the awkward-appearing
larger and slow-fopping birds"