The Antwerp Carrier. 143 



young ones. They had only been two days outside the loft, and never 

 had left it beyond a hundred yards. They were taken away squeakers, 

 and confined with a netting in front for three weeks. When let out they 

 were at their birthplace in ten or twelve minutes. It is only seven miles 

 to Paisley by road. Those birds had never been flovra." 



That some pigeons, especially those of certain breeds, both from a strong 

 natural and inherited love of home, will return from long distances with- 

 out any previous training, is therefore an established fact. But at the 

 same time little dependence could be placed on even the best bred flying 

 pigeons without training. They must, therefore, be flown first from a 

 short distance, and gradually by increased stages till perfect at their 

 work, during which process of training many of them are of course lost. 

 It has been recommended by writers on this subject that birds in their 

 first year should not be flown above a hundred milea from home, and not 

 over two hundred miles in their second year, as they are not fully 

 matured till over two years of age. 



It is an established fact that pedigree in homing birds is of the first 

 consequence, so that those entering on this pursuit should by all means 

 endeavour to procure stock from fliers of repute. If the best homers 

 could be selected by appearance there would be no need to go farther. It 

 is well known that some of the best have had little in their looks to 

 recommend them. 



At some shows prizes are offered " for the likeliest pigeons for flying 

 purposes." Showing these birds in this way is a mere farce, and is only 

 encouraged so long as it proves profitable. Such classes will be discon- 

 tinued when the aggregate entry money falls below the prizes offered. As 

 a fancy pigeon the homer has no value, as a feeder it may be worth from 

 twelve to eighteenpence, as a flier it may be worth d£20. I could under- 

 stand an exhibition of winners of races, but not of the best-looking 

 homers ; for two pigeons may be very much alike, and while one of them 

 has nothing in its breeding or performance to recommend it, the other may 

 be the flftieth in descent from ancestors, each one of which was celebrated 

 as a homer, and be itself equal to any of them. 



On the Continent the flying fancy is much followed. It is said that 

 Belgium has 150 clubs or societies for the cultivation of the voyageur 

 pigeon. Herr Priitz, in his J)i& arten der Haustaube, gives a list of 250 

 German societies for the same purpose. In this country this fancy is 



