Management of the Loft. 
275 
with the weights at E, on hinges G, which are fixed on the cross piece F (see view and section). If a 
cat jumps upon a board thus arranged it immediately lets her down, and resumes its original 
position ; but the weight of a pigeon will not overbalance it. In a wide board it is necessary to 
divide it, and balance each piece separately, as otherwise the weight would be so great at the 
back that a cat would be able to stand upon the board if she got upon it close to the front of the 
wire-work. All the entrances to the area, loft, or flight, should be painted white, that the young 
birds may the better distinguish them when let out the first time or two. 
“Secondly, as to the stock to put into the loft. It should, of course, be of the very best in 
quality ; the quantity is matter for consideration, as to space, expediency, and money. The 
best plan is to obtain birds from Belgium by going over and fetching them yourself, or in 
default of that, by obtaining them through an amateur friend who either fetches them or knows 
some amateur residing there who will get what is required. I have obtained for some 
years some excellent birds from Belgium for my own use, and continue to bring a few over 
each year to supply the places left vacant by losses, and to introduce new blood of the best 
strains. Thus I have been enabled to maintain a loft of pure Belgian birds from the prize 
winners in long-distance races without difficulty, though, unfortunately, my professional voca- 
tion gives me too little leisure to attend to their training and flying as I ought. From the 
experience I have had with birds, both English and Belgian, I advisedly urge every amateur to 
get his birds from Belgium if he means to fly them. I have tried with birds brought over here as 
squeakers, and with old ones brought over to breed from, and have some difficulty in stating which 
I consider to be the best plan. With respect to the squeakers, they ought to be flown and trained 
a few miles before they are bred from, in order to get rid of any slow or stupid birds (for some 
such will be found among them, no matter from how good a strain they proceed), that the best 
alone may be used for reproduction. This entails the loss of several youngsters with which one is 
loth to part, and for which, perhaps, a long price has been paid ; but it is a good plan nevertheless, 
as then one knows what the birds are which are breeding, and is not tempted to spoil a nest of eggs 
in order to try the birds during the breeding season. Young birds, when brought into the loft, 
should be kept in for a couple of weeks, and then let out in the evening with others, after a good 
meal ; they will then keep close at home, and get settled down with the others at once. If breed- 
ing birds are obtained, they should be procured in the autumn after the long races are over in 
Belgium, and put in a place set apart for them, with large nesting places (one for each pair), in 
which they can be shut up if, and when required, as mentioned in a preceding page. A pedigree 
and list of performances should be obtained if possible with the birds. 
“ Thirdly, having thus stocked the loft, the next thing to look to is the management and 
breeding of the birds. In the first place, no bird must be allowed to see the outside of the loft if 
it has been flown anywhere else previously, or the first time will also be the last in all probability. 
Such birds as are brought into the loft as breeding birds, after having had their liberty else- 
where, must be kept in rigorous confinement at any risk and trouble : as much space should be 
afforded them for flight as can be allowed them inside the wires. Only a few days ago a Belgian 
bird escaped from the loft here in London, and returned to Brussels, although it had never been 
flown in England. It was returned by former owner, so there could be no mistake about the bird 
having done the distance. 
“ The large nesting places will be found eminently useful for the old breeding birds, as they 
may be locked in when just going to nest ; or the others not nesting may be locked in, and those 
going to nest only allowed the use of the loft, or flight, until the eggs are laid. Unless this precau- 
tion is taken, it will be found that a goodly number of sterile eggs will be laid ; the cocks, when 
