The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-16

so nervous that. they could not stand Stlll-tnev
were like the hair-spring of a watch, constantly
preening and ducking and on the move. In very.
early times homing pigeons we're 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 q
membership Of more than 1900 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 it's re-
turn, for a bird that does not enter so that the
message 1t carries can be taken from it Is of very
little value as q 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. 1t is nearly sufficient cause. to make the
trainer of pigeons lose his faith In pigeon nature;
besides it gives the neighbors a chance to make
remarks about the fullgrOwn men playing with
brides. Once the bird Is inside the loft 1t can
not emerge, since each loft Is equipped with a
trap through which the bird can enter at any time
h1t cannot go 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 homjng pigeon should not be con-
fused. They are as distinct and have as many
points 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 at the expense Of the other
muscles Of Its body. In races the actual speed
recorded is almost beyond belief. Speeds of 1850
10 1900 yards per minute, or 80 miles per hour,
hive been made for short distances. and It Isl not
extraordinary for q bird to cover in excess Of 500
miles Ia q single day. The record fbr 1000 miles
ia i day. IL hours, "a minutes and IL seconds, and
vas made by q bird named Bullet, and the longest
successful race was 1850 miles from Denrer,,
Colo. to Springfield, Mass. (time % days. 3 hours.
% m~inutes), although instances are recorded
There birds sent from New York to the Pacific
coast as breeders. have, on liberation or escape.
returned from California, over the mountains and
nl,ins to their old homes IA New York.
AZ various times in this country the army and
navy have decided to uae use carrier pigeons In
their work, hut with indi fferent success until the
recent war. The old reports are rather amusing
when considered in the Hight Of present-day knowl-
.alpe sc what can be done with the birds when
handled properly. Pigeons we're used IN the navy
more than 70 years ago, hut failed through lack
sof proper care. At the time of the Mexican Dor
der trouble pigeons were again tried, hut with
uttles success Tor the same reason and through
mex of time Tor acclimatization ~
Homing pieeonis were first put on 4 business
.IikuyIs basis 1H the army In March. 1017. In the
eastern depasrtmnent hi November of That year
the pigeon sectl0n of the land division nc the s,z-
progress IN been made IA tlhle country and
aaA#