The San Francisco call., 1909-11-20

rested on his laurels. keeping house
and sharing in the troubles of his
family, which was a very hungry one
and dema nded lots of food Each night
and morning, though, he was taken
out from the loft and fed with cleanest
grain, and while he ate there was no
family present to disturb him with lit
tile cries of hunger. The calling OF the
little pigeons in the nest went on all
day and faithfully the young red pigeon
carried food to them, making trips
out into the open. flying to far fields
and racing back again to where his
babies were.
His wings, grown strong from ay-
ing far, carried him along faster than
any of the other pigeons: even his own
father who was famous flyer. could
not keep up with him when they
chanced to meet away from the loft.
The pigeon families in the loft were
growing up; young birds learning to
fly like Red had learned. were making
Journeys from one perch to the other.
but the baby pigeons in his nest were
yet too small to use their wings. and
still required much feeding. Sometimes
when the boy who fed the pigeons came
into the loft he talked to Red and
stroked his feathers and all his talk
was about a place below Los Angeles,
500 miles away. where the races that
ended the season started from. One
day, when he had come into the loft
with his uncle, he pointed at the young
red pigeon: Just look at him." he said;
"his feathers shine as II some one had
polished him. and he seems so very
smart that sometimes I almost think
that he can understand us when we
talk"
Hes hardly that smart" was the
answer, "but he shows that he is strong
and healthy and in good condition for
his race. We know that he can fly
and that he will fly when he's by him
self, but he never has made a trip
when there were lots of other pigeons
set free at the same time, and that's
the only thing that I'm afraid Of. He
may loaf along with them instead of
setting Off for home
'Im bet he doesn't loaf a bit" the
boy said: he'll think about the baby
pigeons and come back just as quick
as ever he can"
.You are right about the baby pig
cons" his uncle answered; "the bird
that has family always flies the
best, and I'm glad that Red will have
the little pigeons to think about: they'll
make him come back home, no doubt
of that"
"Will there be many pigeons in the
race?' the boy asked next. I'D like
to see them started. whole lot OF
them together; 1t must be quite a
sight"
Indeed 1t is.' was the reply; 'it's
wonderful how quick they start their
homeward trip"
How do they know the way back
home? Can Red fly up SO high that
he can see any place he knows? He
flew back from Santa Barbara and
he ought to know it when he sees 1t.
but ] really don't believe that he can
see 100 miles"
Nobody knows just how far
pigeon can see," said his uncle, and
no one knows just what 1t is that
tells a pigeon which way leads him
home, but every homing pigeon has
a sense or instinct that tells him the
way to go, and when Red starts off,
no matter what he sees or what he
doesn't see, he keeps on flying as long
as daylight lasts. But when the night
comes on or a fog keeps him from
seeing the earth. he finds some place
TO rest and waits until it's clear be-
fore he starts again. The longest
trip that any, pigeon has ever made
is from New Orleans to Boston, nearly
1.500 miles, and there is no way of
telling how many miles the pigeon
really few, for it took him a week
to make the trip"
That is a long trip" said the boy.
I'm glad that Red will not have to
fly so far. But anyway, I'll be glad
when the race Is over, even il he
shouldn't win. because know he'll
do his best"
For several days there was peace
and quiet in the pigeon loft. but one