Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-01-10
W471AM0 l0pA1z0a4ox19oMM xEe1Wy

so nervous that they could not stand still--they
were like the handspring of a 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
fair and steady growth until now there are
three national homing pigeon associations with
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 bird that does not enter so that the
message it carries be taken from it is of very
little value as messenger. Nothing is more
exasperating to the fancier racer than to have
the pigeon return and cool its anatomy and view
the scenery for half hour before entering the
loft It is nearly sufficient cause to make the
trainer Of pigeons lose his faith in pigeon nature
besides it gives the neighbors chance to make
remarks about the fullgrown men playing with
hirdies Once the bird is inside the loft 1t cam
not emerge since each loft is equipped with
tran through which the bird can enter at any time
but cannot so out unless the trap is set for exit
The ordinary barn variety of pigeon those
bred for the production of squads for market and
the racing homing pigeon should not be con-
fused They are 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
clusiyely for that faculty. They also bred for
sneed and every muscle which is used in flight
is developed almost at the expense of the other
muscles of its body. In races the actual speed
recorded is almost beyond belief Speeds of 1850
RI 900 yards per minute 80 miles per hour,
have been made for short distances, and it is not
extraordinary for bird to cover in excess of 500
miles in single day. The record for 1000 miles
is i day II hours, "a minutes and IL seconds, and
was made by bird named Bullet, and the longest
successful race was 1859 miles from Denver,
Colo to Springfield, Mass (time % days. 8 hours,
% minutes), although instances are recorded
where birds sent from New York to the Pacific
coast as breeders have on liberation or escape
returned from California; the mountains and
nlans to their old homes in New York
AZ various times in this country the army and
navy have decided to use use carrier pigeons in
recent war The old reports are rather amusing
when considered in the light of presentday knowl-
edge 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 again tried but with
little success for the same reason and through
lack of time for acclimatzation
Ho1ning pigeons were first put 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 sg
nal corps was organized, and since then rapid
progress has been made in this country and