Thie Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



confined a goodly family of youngsters has been com- 

 ing on, that are themselves in good flying trim. 



The flock can be liberated some clear, fine morning. 

 It may be necessary to frighten them at first to make 

 them all rise at once, and as soon as they are well 

 bunched together commence waving the flag I have 

 cautioned you against providing, gently at first, and as 

 they ascend more vigorously. The older birds will 

 understand its meaning and begin to "climb up," the 

 young ones following. After flying awhile, they should 

 be allowed to alight and come into the loft, where they 

 should find fresh food and water. They should be kept 

 confined until three or four in the afternoon, when an- 

 other lesson can be given them, and so proceed with 

 them every day, until at last as soon as they are liberated 

 they will dart up and begin to circle until they reach 

 so great a height that the neck aches with watching and 

 the eye can detect nothing but an occasional sparkle as 

 some one or more individual birds jpefform a somer- 

 sault. Good performing birds tumble as they rise, and 

 it is a beautiful sight to see them all going through 

 their peculiar gyrations, keeping close together, the sun 

 glistening on their plumage, and they constantly rising 

 higher and higher until they appear as mere glimmer- 

 ing specks far up in the ether. 



While training attention must be given to those that 

 lag, for we want no laggards in such a flock. Such 

 birds should be disposed of in some way and not 

 kept even as breeders. Care must be observed 

 not to liberate them on a stormy or foggy day, 

 or they may lose their bearings and be hopelessly lost. 

 Breeding birds should not be allowed to fly too long, 

 or their eggs will get cold; consequently it is not best 

 to fly them so often during the breeding season. Young 



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