THE CAHMER PIGEON. 



Maestricht, and to show what speed was expected of the little 

 aerial travellers, the foremost one lost, although its speed had 

 averaged more than forty-five miles an hour. 



Among other given purposes for which this bird of speedy 

 flight has been used, is that of assisting in the capture of 

 smugglers. Captain Gouland who, some years ago, was won- 

 derfully Buccessfol in arresting the contrabandists tra'fling in 

 the vicinity of Dover, kept a large flight, and had agents on 

 the continent, who despatched his birds with the intelligence 

 when cargoes of contraband goods might be expected. This 

 having been practised for some time, the smugglers procured 

 hawks to kill the pigeons when let off, thus destroying many 

 of the captain's winged scouts. 



" The carrier pigeon fancy," says good " old English " 

 Mowbray, writing thirty years ago, " has never since been 

 80 prevalent in this country as it was sixty years ago. 

 Men's minds have assumed a direction entirely opposite to 

 that of sportive amusements; political reform and the re- 

 dress of ancient grievances are now the popular substitute 

 for pigeon flying." It is, of course, like my impertinence 

 to question the sentiments of a writer who so wrote about the 

 period of my weaning ; but, with all due respect to Mr. Mow- 

 bray, I must think that reform and the redress of national 

 grievances is no mean substitute for pigeon flying. My advice 

 to the amateur pigeon-keeper is, that he had better take to 

 politics or even worse, than meddle with " carriiers." Be 

 careful in your dealings with the "swift messenger," or even 

 with his immediate cross-bred progeny. Carriers are not the 

 most prolific breeders, and certainly not the most affectionate' 

 parents. They wiU frequently turn their eggs out of the nest, 

 ar wantonly break them, rather than be troubled with the 

 cares of hatching. If, however, the amateur is bent on keep- 

 ing carriers, the best course he can pursue is, first to disopver 

 that rcwa avis, a trustworthy bird-dealer, and then to purchase 

 of him some newly-laid carrier's eggs. These he may place 

 under a she " dragon," who, belying her name, is the most 

 careful of pigeon-mothers. By all means avoid the purchase 

 of old carriers ; he who is so rash may depend he has seen the 

 last of them the very first time he lets them loose. 



I have a valuable bit of advice to give respecting breeding 

 generally, and it may as well be given here as elsewhere. 

 Never breed " in and m." That is, never attempt to stock 

 your dormer from a single pair. If you do attempt it, the 



sea 

 24, 



