Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-01-09

so nervous that they could not stand still-they
were like the hur.spring of n watch. constantly
preening and duckng nnd on the move. In very
early tines homing pigeons were in vogue in
Egypt Greece and among the Romans. Racing
pigeons has been royal and nntional sport In
Belgium, France. Italy. Turkey. Egypt and Eng
land for rhundreGs of years. 1t was introduced
int" this country In the seventies and has enjoyed
fair and steady growth until now there IRE
three nntional homing pigeon associations with u
memberships of more than 1000 breeders.
Much time Is spent In teaching the pigeon a Of
the tricks which count when the bird Is actually
racing In competition with other pigeons. II ~
taught to enter the loft Immediately upon Its re-
turn. for bird that does not enter so that the
message 1t carries can be taken from 1t is of very
little value MS n messenger. Nothing s
eXuspe-atng 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. 1t Is nearly sufficient cause to make the
trner of pigeons lose his faith in pigeon nuture;
besides 1t gives the neighbors chance to make
remarks about the fuIlgrown playing with
brides. Once the bird Is inside the loft 1t
not emerge since each loft Is equipped with
trup through which the bird enter ut any time
hut cnnnot 80 out unless the trap liz set for exit
The ordinary barn variety of pigeon or those
bred for the production of squads for lnurket and
the racing homing pigeon should not be con-
fused. They distinct and hive rs many
,p,ints of difference have the big draft horse
and the higl,-strlng. nervous racing horse. The
ordinary pigeon has very little hOining ability.
whereas the hOming pigeon Is kept and bred OK
c,usivey for that faculty. They are also bred for
sueed and every muscle which Is used In flight
is developed almost ut the expense of the other
muscles of Its body In races IT, actual speed
recorded is almost beyond belief. Speeds Of 1850
to 1900 yards per minute. or 80 miles per hour,
hive been made for short distances. and 1t is not
extraordinary for bird to cover In excess of 800
miles in u single day. The record for 600 miles
ia day, II hours. "a minutes and IL seconds. and
was made by a bird named Bullet. and the longest
successful race 1859 miles from Denver
Colo to Springfield. Mass. (tirne % days. hours
% minutes). although instances are recorded
. where hire sent from New York to the Pacific
coast as breeders. have, on liberation or escape.
returned from California. over the mountains and
mains to their old homes In New York
Al various times in this country the army and
navy have decided TO use use carrier pigeons In
their work. but with tndl rerent success until the
recent war; The old repo tts are rather amusing
edge Of what can be done with the birds when
handled properly. Pigeona were used 10 the navy
more than ~ years ago. but failed through lack
OF proper care. At the time Of the Mexican bor-
der trouble pigeons were again tried. hut with
lack OF dino for accllmnttzatisn. ~
Honiing pigeous were atirst pnt on buxlness-
s like. basis In the army N March. 1917 In the
eastern department. In November cf that yenr
the pigeon section Of tn. land division of tile slg-
nal corps was organized. snd since then rapid
progress Inns been made IN tsas ccuntrs and