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HOMING.
HOMING NOTES.
LBy Torpedo.]
Some weeks ago a brace of storm-tossed homing
pigeons, both of which -were in a very exhausted
state, alighted on the steamer -Warrego wlieu she
was about 100 miles north-east of Wilsons Promontory.
A heavy souih-westeriy gale was raging
at the time, and the birds, judging by their
aLppcarance, had had a severe buii'ciiug. An attempt
was made by the crew to catch them, but
only one was secured- An examination of the
bird cahght showed that it was the bearer of
message to Latinceston Irom Greein Island, which
is situated in l>an£'s Straits. The bird had been
dispatched the previous day in a south-west gate.
The Auckland Homing Club recently hew a race
rom Franklon Junction (sixty miles air line) for
iros bred since August last. Messrs Ellis & Swan
.l'.C'.. 4t£f was first, recording a velocity of 'J.
ards per minute. .
A scneme lor the protection of homers in France
s being vigorously taken in hand by MODS. Rosoor,
f rubber ring lame, liis idea is to obtain a sulh
lent number ot fancieis to subscribe two trancs
ach, in order to form a/ prtStectiOn society, the
ollowing being its chief objects:—First, to assist
rivate lanciers who liave been the victims of Lavng
birds shot, and are unable to prosecute through
ac£ of niike-.; second, 'to offer a good reward to
ersons giving information leading to the convicion
of pot hunters; third, to advertise in the pubic
press, as a means of circulating the value of
omers, it is confidently believed that the
cheme is one that, if practically worked, should
ear good fruit.
The pot hunter in and around the suburbs of
ondon is, beyond doubt, says the "Stockkeeper,"
ne of the greatest evils the suburban I'oncieis have
o contcnd with. Mr. F. A. Key, secretary of the
ondon Centic (National Homing Union) is betirring
liimself on behalf of the fancy, And after
ome trouble has succeeded in obtaining from the
.'ommissioner of the .Metropolitan Police a promise
f assistance to auppfess the nuisance of snooting
oming pigeons.
The following information concerning the vaious
methods to be adopted in "Homing" will
nterest fanciers:—"Some breeders leave the trap
pen all day, so that the birds can be on the wing
henever they feel inclined, and in all weathers.
thers approve of a fly at stated times only, letting
he pigeons out at clear and quiet intervals, and
or a limited period morning, aitemoon, and eveng.
When the young homers are three months old
heir training can be commenced. The first fly
s generally half a mile from' home, the bird being
tfced or thrown up, in as open a space as can be
ound. The next day a mile Ss trailed, a couple
f days afterwards two miles, with gradually exnding
distances. The beginner must be prepared
o meet with numerous loses, and if he cannot
o this witii equanimity he had better not attempt
.ving homers. The longer the distance tbe birds
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have to travel the greater will be the number of
losses. Rartieulais should be noted down of the
performances of each bird, so that it can be known
which are quickest and most reliable. Great care
must be tanen when catching the birtis not 10 pull
out the featheis or otherwise damage them. There
is a knack even in holding a pigeon. The novice
should learn to take the bird so that the breast
is in the palm of the hand, the head towards the
little finger, the thumb across the back of the
pigeon, and the legs between the first and second
finger. If held thus, firmly but lightly, it cannot
struggle or escape, yet it can be examined with
the greatest ease.' .There are numberless homing
societies and clubs all over the kingdom, many of
which liave races amongst the members for both
a , nd birds."—"Lloyd's Weeklv."
The Moult. Fanciers should pay every attention
to their pigeons "now that they are well into their
mcmlt, and they should be given a bath at least
J," 1 ™ a week. A small quantity of Unseed should
be fed to them daily, and the addition of about half
a packet of Epsom salts to their drinking water
helps to keep..the birds healthy and their blood
cool, thus ensuring a good moult. It is -a8visable
to separate the sexes during the moulting
season, and young birds should on no account be
allowed to go to nest before the moult, as breeding
too young retards development, especially in
young hens. Give ihe birds plenty of grit, and
allow them to take gentle exercise, but never drive
them. Above all, it should be remembered that a
bird that does not go tlwough its moult properly is
no good for next sefcon's racing. The moult completely
transforms the young pigeon. The next
leathers are dry, lustreless, and without great development.
Those which replace them are oily
wide, longer, and deeper coloured. It is this feather
alteration which gives to the young birds such
a seductive aspect, and which so pleases their owner's
eye, and causes him to have so many sweet
hopes for the coming year. It is easy to recognise
a pigeon that has been knocking about during
its wing moult. Such a bird will show a bad
flight in both wings.
An English fancier writing in the "Boys' Own
Pajier" says:—"Going light, as is termed'bv fanciers,
is a complaint to which many pigeons arc
liable, and which arises in most eases from inflammation
of the bowels. Post-mortem examinations.
however, have proved that it is likewise
caused by deposits of a scrorulus character in the
liver or lungs. The disease is most fatal to vOnng
birds in thpir first moult. Mr. Lyell says:—T
should • think that among the more choice varieties
of fancy pigeons something like 50 per cent,
hare to go through this distemper in a more or
less severe form. Many do not consideria bird
safe until it lias passed through it in somb form
or other, and after safely passing through it manv
consider a bird about twice as valuable as it was
before, so many have to succumb to its effects.
The principal symptoms of the disorder are diarrhoea
of an offensive cliaracter, and—as the name
of the ailment implies—emaciation, generally
very rapid, and general weakness.' For the first
twn days give a little chlorate of potash, about
two grains, three times a day; afterwards lauda
num should be given to check the discharge, from
two to five or six drops, three or four times a
day. I know of little else to be done except keeping
all the bird's surroundings scrupulously clean
and sweet and using the peimangatc of potash
disinfectant."
Birds, such as barbs and carrier?, are subject to
an ailment to which fanciers give the name of
spouts. It is caused either through injury or from
tire skin growing into a fold. It requires a rather
delicate operation, for a clean surface should be
made with a pair of surgical scissors. After this
the parts should be kept scrupulously clean, and
siaeared twice a day with a little of tiie benzoated
ointment of zinc. Diseases of the wings are commofi
to all pigeons. Hard lumps should be painted
with the tincture of iodine; bnt if matter or
fluid is felt, it must be allowed an exit by making
an incision with a dean lance or sharp knife. I
have nothing to say on the subject of insects in
birds, except that, they are in every case the result
of the want of cleanliness and proper feeding, for
it is a well-known fact that animals, whether birds
or beasts, who are weakly in health are more apt
to be attacked by insects. Once more, therefore,
I say that prevention is better lhau cure."
The well-known secretary of "the South Australian
Homing Pigeon Society, Mr. Frank H. Brock, informs
me that their meeting, which was to even
tuate on February 27a will not be held until
March 6.
"F. R. Godden," Norwood.—Am endeavouring to
ascertain if there is a club in East Torrens. Sec
Best Saturday's "Homing Notes."
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