46 



Midland Counties, his favourite food 

 was barley and dried peas when he 

 was training for a fly. He always 

 preferred the fountain to be kept out 

 of the place and only put in morn- 

 ing and night when they were fed, 

 this treatment will keep them from 

 getting fat. 



Tom Ross was another famous 

 pigeon flyer, and in his time had the 

 best kit of birds that were flown. 

 His favourite breed was the Charley 

 breed, something after the style of 

 the short-faced red-mottled Tumbler, 

 this breed was a grand strain. Five- 

 and-twenty years ago he was the 

 master-piece of all pigecn flyers. 

 Many of the old pigeon flyers are 

 dead or have done keeping them 

 and young fanciers take their places, 

 and if you get in their company they 

 would try to make you believe they 

 know as much about pigeon flying 

 as the old experienced hands. 



