278 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
training, and, as a general rule, it will be found that the age of twelve weeks is early enough. 
Many amateurs train even earlier, but I do not think it advisable, as many good birds are thus 
lost, for though a few precocious birds may succeed, yet the majority are not then in fit trim for 
the ordeal, and thus it may be that the many are sacrificed to the few. It is well to have the 
outside of the loft near the area, as well as the area trap, &c., painted white ; it serves as a mark 
for the young birds in finding their way in and out. The landing-place outside the area itself 
should not be too large, so as to afford the birds a temptation to sit about on it instead of coming 
into the loft. 
“ Having selected the birds one wishes to train, they must betaken out in a box or basket to be 
thrown the first time. The distance should be not more than 500 or 60© yards, and the time morning, 
as early as you like. The birds should be hungry, not voracious, but just nicely hungry, so that 
when home they may come into the loft to feed at once. A nice, clear, tolerably still day should 
be selected for each throw when commencing to train, if possible, in order to- give the young birds 
every advantage. They may then be taken the next day, or as soon as convenient, but the sooner 
the better, to the same distance, in another direction, and so on until they have been sent in four, 
or at least in three, directions around their home. This done, the distance may be doubled, and 
again sent to the four points of the compass.- They will next be taken a mile, or a mile and a 
half in each- direction, and by this time will have a pretty general acquaintance with the country 
immediately adjacent to their home in all directions. 
“ If the birds are to be trained for any particular race, they may be sent only in that one 
direction, but if to be generally trained they should still be taught to fly the country on all sides 
of their homes. The stages may now be two miles, then four, eight, twelve, twenty, and then ten 
miles at a stage, but I should not recommend longer stages than that until they have passed fifty 
miles, when they may be sent sixteen and twenty miles at a step. This course of training is the 
gentlest that can well be imagined. It will, of course, take some trouble to carry it out, as in the 
preliminary lessons a large number of throws are given to the birds with but very little increase in 
distance ; but it will make them fly about well all around their home whether they like it or no. 
There is not much risk of losing them at such puny distances, but they are all the time learning 
what is required of them. They begin then to see what to do, and though flying round and round 
for a long time at first, soon understand their business, and gradually lose less time in starting ; then, 
when they are in their actual distance training, they are up to their work and do their best to get oft 
to their homes without delay. Many amateurs train their birds much more severely and much less 
gradually even here in England ; but it may be taken as an axiom of pigeon flying that you cannot 
train too gradually, train how you may. I write this for the novice 'who wishes to learn how to 
begin ; the experienced amateur needs no such information — his tutor has been Experience, and 
as each one may well say, a harsh one too. The birds should, as before mentioned, never be thrown 
with a crop full of food ; the bird is not then inclined to fly, would rather pitch upon some roof and 
have a sleep, and if it be towards evening may chance to stop there all night, unless some cat 
should sup and choose pigeon for treat. Care should be taken, when beginning to train a bird, not 
to liberate it in the immediate vicinity of buildings if it can possibly be avoided, as such a course 
tempts the bird to alight, and it will then soon grow into a habit of alighting, when thrown, if it have 
the opportunity. When liberated the bird should be thrown upwards from the hand firmly but gently, 
and without pulling out or disarranging the- feathers. I have said pulling out, because inexperienced 
persons, when throwing a bird, are apt to retain a few feathers in hand after the bird has flown. 
One of my hens sent to be thrown thus lost every feather of her tail, both large and small, and in 
such a state I saw her when she arrived. In the preliminary stage, say up to ten miles or so, it is 
