220 



THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



house matches is still kept up ; but the various pigeon Societies 

 which cultivate more ambitious contests are now supported by 

 men of position and influence, and the pursuit has grown 

 immensely in public favour since the Franco-German war. 



noDEirESE Fltiho Fioeon. 



Modena Flying Pigeons. — Before concluding this work, we 

 must briefly mention the peculiar kind of pigeon-flying prac- 

 tised for centuries past in the city of Modena, as described by 

 Signor Malmusi and Professor P. Bonizzi, summaries of whose 

 notes on the subject have been published by Dr. Baldamus in 

 Dresden, and more lately in England by Mr. J. C. Lyell. 

 The peculiarity of these pigeons is their mode of flight and 

 training by the Triganieri, or pigeon-flyers, which there is 

 documentaiy evidence to carry back to the year 1327. The 



