272 The Illustrated Book of PiCeOxs. 
any value for flying have been brought ever from Belgium, or are the produce of such imported' 
birds, and it is but in the nature of things that this should be so, since the Belgians have been 
breeding and perfecting their stock for years, while in England the fancy is as yet in its 
infancy. 
“ I propose to treat of the subject before us under the following heads : — First, the loft and 
its appliances ; then of the stock to put in it, going on with general management and breeding, 
treatment of young birds, training and racing, pigeon-flying Societies, and, finally, uses of the 
Homing Pigeon. 
“ First, as to the loft. So far as regards the health of the birds, position of loft, and general 
construction, I need add nothing to what has already appeared in a former page of this book; 
but for homing pigeons it is especially desirable to have a warm aspect, so as to induce breeding 
as soon as the weather is fit and proper for the good health of the young, and also that the loft 
should be in an elevated position ; and it cannot be too strongly impressed upon the amateur who 
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b 
c 
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Fig. 63. 
intends to work his birds that the higher the loft is situate the better. A low position (especially 
if at all shaded by trees, as often occurs where the pigeon house is in the garden on the ground) 
militates very strongly against the birds, both old and young, by inducing laziness and a 
disposition to sit and mope about the place, instead of going for a good fly and coming in again 
quickly. The birds are also less in danger from cats and rats if higher up in the house, or over a 
stable, coach-house, or out-building, than when on the ground. Young birds, particularly, fly better 
in a loft which is well up in the world, and find their way in and out of it in a very short time, 
thus giving less trouble and causing less anxiety for their owner than when hanging about outside 
a house in the garden, in momentary danger from cats. 
“The outer door of the loft, and, in fact, every door in it, should be made to close itself, which 
may be done with a spring or a weight. For my own part, I have always used a counter-weight 
with a cord over a pulley ; then there is no danger of losing a valuable bird by any negligence 
or forgetfulness in leaving the door open. The loft itself may very advantageously be divided 
into two parts by a partition running from the back of the house or room to the window or trap, 
with a door in the partition near the window, so arranged that, by closing it on one side, the birds 
on one side of the house shall be cut off from the window, and those on the other side shall be 
allowed free ingress and egress ; thus the birds on both sides would become accustomed to the 
same area and trap. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 63, in which a plan of the loft is 
given : r represents the window ; h Ji the doors ; d d d being a partition running across the loft to a 
