362 FANCY PIGEONS. 



The following was published in the Fanciers'' Chronicle of 20th 

 August, 1880, and was noticed also in the Field and other 

 papers: "Wonderful performance of a Homer. — In February 

 last year I bought from Mr. Mills, Brussels, some homing 

 pigeons. On Sunday, the 8th instant, I gave one of these 

 birds its liberty, and it disappeared. I thought no more of 

 it, but on Thursday last I was surprised to receive from 

 Mr. Mills a letter, saying that the bird reached his loft on 

 "Wednesday morning. I send you this information, as I con- 

 sider this a most marvellous performance, the bird having 

 been in confinement many months, and had to travel over 

 about four hundred miles of country which, it had never 

 seen. The pigeon in question is a three -year- old blue chequer 

 hen, and will be again in my possession to-night or to-morrow 

 morning, Mr. Mills having sent it off yesterday. — James P. 

 Taylor, Moss Croft, Gateshead-on-Tyne." 



This is a record of a truly wonderful performance, one 

 similar to that which was accomplished by the birds of Mr, 

 Huie, of Glasgow. Training brings out the natural homing 

 powers of these pigeons, but that they do not fly by sight alone 

 the above proves. And in training for the long Continental 

 matches the final stages often exceed a hundred miles, over 

 which the best birds fly straight home. What guides them 

 on their way? 



That some pigeons, especially certain breeds, both from 

 a strong natural and inherited love of home, will return 

 from long distances without any previous training, is there- 

 fore an established fact. But at the same time, little de- 

 pendence could be placed on even the best bred flying pigeons 

 without training. They must, therefore be flown first from 

 a short distance, and gradually by increased stages, till 

 perfect at their work, during which process of training many 

 of them will of course be lost. It has been recommended by 

 writers on this subject, that birds in their first year should 

 not be flown above a hundred miles from home, and not 



