28 



HOMING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES OF BIRDS. 



them had flown from Geneva previously. The Versailles birds had been 

 trained toward Brest, the Gu^ret birds towards Amsterdam. Four of the 

 birds from Gannat had already been trained from Macon to Gamiat. He 

 says nothing of the training of the other four Gamiat birds. 



Versailles Mrds: 24 birds were released in Geneva at 7'' 10™ August 6; 2 returned the same 



day at appro.ximately 5^ 4.5°" p. m.; 9 returned August 7 at different hours; by 



August 10 all had returned. 

 Gueret birds: 34 birds were released in Geneva at 7^ 15™ on the morning of August 6; 2 



returned the same day a Uttle after noon. The rest returned on the following 



morning. 

 Gannat hirds: 8 pigeons were released in Geneva at 7^ 20™ a. m., August 6. None returned 



the first day; 3 returned on the morning of August 7; 1 on the 8th; 1 on the 9th; 



1 on the nth, and 1 on the 12th. On August 17, 1 bird was still out. 



We give this record of pigeons in full because it brings out one point very 

 clearly, viz., that even in short flights all of the bu'ds do not return promptly. 

 Those we read of in the homing-pigeon records are usuallj' of the first bird in the 

 loft to return and it is rare that all of the birds from any given loft return on 

 the first day, even when the distances are short. The above distances were 

 all very much less than the longer flights made from Bird Key. The distance 

 from Geneva to Versailles is 280 miles, to Gueret 220 miles, and to Gannat 150 

 miles. 



DATA ON THE SPEED OF THE HOMING PIGEON. 



The following record was furnished us by Mr. Wiedering. It relates to 

 average speed in a 200-mile contest. 



161 birds were shipped on Saturday to Delavan, 111., being a Uttle over 200 miles on 

 an air-line. The birds were hberated on Sunday at 7'' 10™ a. m. by W. M. Cornett, agent 

 of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, who reported weather fair and wind from the 

 southeast. At home the weather was very cloudy and the wind from the south, changing 

 to east about an hour before the arrival of the first bird. According to reports local showers 

 prevailed along the greater portion of the course and the speed made is very satisfactory, 

 under the conditions. The first bird timed at the several lofts and the speed per minute 

 attained by each is as follows: 



Alex. E. Wiedering, 1,135.30 yards. 

 H. J. Baumg.iertner, 1,134.61 yarda. 

 AuR. Bergenthal. 1,134.59 yards. 

 John Radke, 1,127.99 yards. 



William R. Knell. 1,115.71 yards. 

 Edw. J. Phipps, 1.081.48 yards. 

 Val. Burkard, .sr., 1,067.99 yards. 

 Peter J. Hies, 1,003.19 yards. 



When the distance is shorter the average speed, with other conditions equal, 

 usually rises. From the same source we have obtained a record for a 100- 

 mile flight: 



The Milwaukee district of the National Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers 

 conducted its 100-mile race from Shabbona, 111., on Tuesday, May 31. 161 birds were 

 shipped by Adams Express on Saturday of last week. The weather being unfavorable on 

 Sunday and also on Monday, Uberation did not take place until the date above mentioned. 



A. J. Harton, agent of the Chicago, BurUngton & Quincy Railway, acted as hberator, 

 and reported that the birds were liberated at 6'' 30™ a. m., with clear weather and southeast 

 wind. At home the weather was also clear, with wind changing from southeast to southwest. 



A bird from the loft of H. J. Baumgaertner was the winner of the race, and covered the 

 distance of 101.27 miles in 2 hours and 43 seconds, being at the rate of 50.30 rmles an hour. 



The first bird timed at each of the respective lofts, with the average speed per minute, 

 is as follows: 



H. J. Baumgaertner, 1,475.60 yards. 

 William R. Knell, 1,471.29 yards 

 A. E Wiedering, 1.452.89 yards. 

 Aug. Bergenthal. 1,411.29 yards. 



Edw. J. Phipps, 1,395.07 yards 



P J. Ries, 1,373.69 yards. 



Val. Burkard, sr., 1,349.08 yards. 



