THE SPOET OF P1GE0N-]?I,T*ING. 



Pigeons are not excepted from the rule, and pigeon-flying 

 has been a British sport from time immemorial. Up to the 

 close of the last century it was an ordinary, occnrrenoe for men 

 to stake hundreds of pounds on the result of a " prize flight." 

 Carriers of the best breed were brought in hundreds from 

 France and Germany, and then released in one great flock to 

 find their way back across *the sea. 



As late as 1828, we read that, " fifty-six carriers brought to 

 London from Liege were flown in the neighbourhood of Alders- 

 gate-street, at thirty-four minutes past four a.m. One of them 

 called Napoleon reached its destination — a distance of three 

 hundred miles — at twenty -four minutes past ten the same 

 morning, having thus accomplished its journey in five hours 

 and fifty minutes, being at the rate of forty -five miles an hour." 



About the same period " Mr. Atwood made a bet of one 

 hundred pounds that he would fly six pigeons from the high 

 ground near Crostwiok, in Norfolk, one hundred and fourteen 

 miles, and that one should arrive at his /loft in the Sanctuary, 

 St. George's Fields, within four hours and a' half." 



Fo]3s:s of the present generation, however, are too wise to 

 cast hundreds of pounds to the mercy of the winds — rat least 

 as regards pigeons. It is seldom now that they are made the 

 subjects of wholesale wagering, though a briskish business is 

 stiU carried on in low neighbourhoods, the stakes ranging from 

 half-a-crown to five pounds. 



Bethnal Green is the head-quarters of the London " Fancy." 

 There is a long straggling street there known as Hare-street, 

 and it is no exaggeration to say that the roofs of at least two- 

 thirds of the houses are decorated vrith a dormer, and equally 

 true that, protruding from almost every trap-door appertaining 

 thereto, is the shock-head and the ragged shoulders of some 

 dirty idle scamp whistHng through his fingers, or " hishing " 

 and shouting while he waves a long wand with a rag tied to 

 the end. 



Tte pigeons most favourite for match-flying among the 

 vulgar "fancy" are known by the uneuphonious name of " skin- 

 nems," and are a cross-breed between the dragon and the 

 tumbler. The " skinnem " is not a respectable-looking bird. 

 With the Utheness of the carrier, he possesses none of that 

 graceful bird's gentle — not to say aristocratic — mien ; he looks 

 like the disreputable member of a highly respectable 'family, 

 addicted to pot-houses and evil company, and altogether gone 

 to th.e bad. 



