FATHER OF PIGEON-FANCIERS 61 



could be done with them, and insisting on the 

 necessity of training the birds step by step. 

 The then prevalent idea that a pigeon had only 

 to be released at any distance from its loft to 

 find its way back at once, he combated for years. 

 Perhaps the best epitome of his views and the 

 facts regarding this subject is his article on 

 " Military Pigeon Posts " in Nature, of February 

 4th, 1892, wherein he showed how the organisation 

 of the military pigeon post had been perfected 

 by most of the big Continental nations, attaining . / 

 to great completeness in France, Germany, Austria, 

 Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. As show- 

 ing their speed he instanced the release of seventy- 

 two birds from the Crystal Palace in 1873 : it 

 was a good example to quote, since the first 

 bird arrived in Brussels before the telegram 

 which announced its departure. He held up 

 as an example Belgium, which he estimated 

 possessed over 600,000 pigeons, the property 

 of private individuals, all at the disposal of the 

 Government in time of need. Though several 

 army officers were attracted by Tegetmeier's 

 advocacy, notably the late General Hassard, R.E., 

 but little of a practical nature was accomplished, 

 owing to the apathy of the authorities. 



Yet another great pigeon race was brought 

 about by Tegetmeier's persistent efforts : this 

 time — June 28th, 1875 — it was held from the 

 Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill. It was an 



