The Feathei-'s Practical Pigeon Book 



of communication between its frontier posts for 

 some years, and found them of great advantage, al- 

 though not always reliable, from the attacks they were 

 subject to from hawks. Writing of hawks, reminds me 

 of a curious plan the Chinese pursue to protect pigeons 

 from the numerous small hawks that are common to 

 that country. A visitor to tha,t section writes : "While 

 enjoying the curious sights that everywhere met my eye, 

 my attention was called to a succession of peculiar shrill 

 whistles, that seemed to come from the space over our 

 heads. On looking up I could see nothing but a flock 

 of pigeons circling about. Being unable to solve the 

 mystery, I called the attention of our host to the singu- 

 lar sounds, when he laughingly replied : 'Oh, that is 

 made by the pigeons, and is caused by a small whistle 

 attached to the tail-feathers of certain of the birds, and 

 is placed there to scare away the hawks, which it is very 

 effectual in doing.' The whistle is so arranged that the 

 pigeon passing through the air causes it to emit at in- 

 tervals the shrill noises I heard." Much more could be 

 said of benefit and interest to those who select Antwerps 

 as pets. But in this connection we must not forget the 

 pretty, modest, and attractive little Tumbler family. 

 They too are kept as flyers, but not for racing nor mes- 

 senger purposes although even they will readily return 

 home from ten and fifteen miles distance. I well re- 

 member a beautiful flock of Long-faced Red Tumblers 

 I once possessed, and it was in connection with them 

 I first learned how strong the homing instinct was de- 

 veloped in the Tumbler. An English-born friend had 

 been a fancier in his boyhood and on seeing my flock 

 the old fancy took possession of him again, and nothing 

 would satisfy him but a family of the same kind. Ac- 

 cordingly a bargain was made and he became the pos- 



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