13S THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPEB. 



birds are always at work when they are out of doors. To secure 

 this object it is usual to let them out before feeding, morning 

 and evening. The area, or starting-place, should be as high as 

 possible, and the birds thrown well up, or hurried up by clap- 

 ping or waving a flag at starting, and let in again to be fed as 

 soon as they come down. If flown with food in their crops they 

 are much more likely to settle on roofs or chimneys ; and when 

 a Flying Tumbler has once acquired this habit it is spoilt as a 

 performer. Besides this, in turning over the food is liable to 

 be thrown up from the crop into the throat, and thus choke the 

 bird, several cases of which accident have become known to us. 

 If the birds do not fly freely, or want to come down at once, 

 they should be kept in for several days, and only liberated on 

 some clear bright day, when the fine weather and long confine- 

 ment will dispose them to take more exercise. Whenever they 

 settle they must be frightened or driven oflT, but allowed to feed 

 as soon as ever they come in ; and by steadily following this 

 system the birds soon get into the habit of spending all the 

 time they are in the open air upon the wing. When in regular 

 training, it is best to fly them twice a day, in the morning and 

 evening, giving them a light feed after the morning fly, and as 

 much as they like after their fly at night. It is also necessary 

 to see that only good flyers are let out together, as lazy birds, 

 or " pitchers," may corrupt the whole flock. It is also neces- 

 sary, when they are up in the air, 'to avoid anything that may 

 tempt them to descend, unless they are really wanted in. 

 Only in the evening, after they have come in and had their 

 feed, may they be occasionally allowed a little liberty on the 

 roof, when they will pick up '' scour " and otherwise make good 

 use of their time. 



Flights are very often lost during fog, snow, rain, or high 

 winds, if these come on suddenly while they are up — for, of 

 course, the birds would not be liberated in such weather. It is 

 well always to have a reserve of a few birds at home, which iu 



