The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-16

so nervous that they could not stand stiII-they
were like the hairspring Of a watch. constantly
preening and ducking and on the move II very
early times homing pigeons were in vogue in
Egypt Greece and among the Romans. Racing
pigeons has been royal and national sport in
Belgium, France, Italy, Turkey. Egypt and Eng
land for hundreds of years 1t introduced ,
into this country the seventies and has enjoyed
a fair and steady growth until now there are
three national homing pigeon associations with
membership of than 2,0o0 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 a bird that does not enter so that the
message it carries be taken from it is of very
little value 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 1t is nearly sufficient cause to make the
trainer of pigeons lose his faith in pigeon nature
besides it gives the neghbors chance to make
remarks about the fUllgrOwn playing with
brides. Once the bird is inside the loft it can
not emerge, since each loft is equipped with
trap through which the bird enter at any time
but cannot go 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 homng pigeon should not be
fused. They distinct and have many
points of difference 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
cIusively for that faculty. They also bred for
speed, 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 $50
to 1900 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 a single day. The record for LOCO miles
is / day. IL hours, "a minutes and IL seconds. and
was made by a bird named Bullet, and the longest
successful race was 1859 miles from Denver,
Colo to Springfield, Mass (time % days. hours,
% minutes), although instances recorded
where birds sent from New York to the Pacific
coast as breeders. have liberation escape
returned from California. the mountains and
plains 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 ferent success until the
recent war. The old repo rts rather amusing
when considered in the light of presen-day knOwl-
edge of what be done with the birds when
handled properly. Pigeons 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 and through
lack Of time for acclimatization.
Homing pigeons were first put on a 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