The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-01-24

so nervous that they could not stand still-they
were like the hair-spring of q watch, constantly
preening and ducking and on the move. In very
early times homing pigeons were in vogue IN
Egypt, Greece and among the Romans. Racing
pigeons has been a royal and national sport in
Belgium, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and Eng
land for hundreds of years. 1t was introduced
into this country In the seventies and has enjoyed
a fair and steady growth until now there are
three national homing pigeon associations with a
membership Of more than 1000 breeders.
Much time is spent in teaching the pigeon all OF
the tricks which count when the bird is actually
racing In competition with other pigeons. 1t is
taught to enter the loft Immediately upon its re-
turn, for u bird that does not enter so that the
message it carries can be taken from 1t is OF very
little value as n messenger. Nothing is more
exasperating to the fancier or racer than to have
the pigeon return and cool its anatomy and view
the scenery for a half hour before entering the
loft. It is nearly sufficient cause to make the
trainer of pigeons lose his faith In pigeon nature;
besides 1t gives the n%eighbOrs a chance to make
remarks about the f%ullgrOwn men playing with
brides. Once the bird is inside the loft it can.
not emerge, since each loft is equipped with a
trap through which the bird can enter at any time
but cannot 60 out unless the trap is set for exit.
The ordinary barn variety Of pigeon or those
bred for the production Of squads for market and
the racing homing pigeon should not be con-
fused. They are as distinct and have as many
noints of difference as have the big draft horse
and the high-strung, nervous racing horse. The
ordinary pigeon has very little homing ability,
whereas the homing pigeon is kept and bred ex-
clusively for that faculty. They are also bred for
sneed. and every muscle which is used in flight
is developed almost ut the expense Of the other
muscles Of Its body. In races the actual speed
recorded Is almost beyond belief. Speeds of 1850
IN l 900 yards per minute, or 80 miles per hour,
have been made for short distances, and it is not
extraordinary for a bird to cover in excess of 500
miles In a single day. The record for 1000 miles
,s ! day, II hours, "a minutes and IL seconds, and
was made by q bird named Bullet, and the longest
successful race was 1859 miles from Denver,
Colo. TO Springfield, Mass. (time % days. 3 hours,
% minutes), although instances are recorded
whore birds sent from New York to the Pacific
coast as breeders. have, on liberation or escape,
returned from California, over the mountains and
nlains to their old homes In New York.
At various times in this country the army and
navy have decided to use use carrier pigeons In
their work, but with indi fferent success until the
recent war. The old repo rts are rather amusing
when considered in the light of present-day knowl-
edee of what can be done with the birds when
handled properly. Pigeons were used in the navy
more than 20 years ago, but failed through lack
Of proper care. At the time of the Mexican Dor
der trouble pigeons were again tried, but with
little success for the same reason and through
lack Of time for naturalization
Homing pigeons were first put on n business
like basis in the army In March, 1917, in the
eastern department. In November of that year
the pigeon section OF the land division of the sig
nal corps was organized, and since then rapid
progress has been made In this country and