Training the Birds. 
279 
the better plan to throw each bird singly, that it may, without any others to distract its attention, 
encourage, or mislead it, use its own faculties to regain its home ; afterwards they may all be 
thrown together, and have the chance of competing on equal terms. If it be desired to test the 
birds more severely after having been well trained all round for two miles or so (which 1 consider 
to be an essential lesson), they may be sent five, ten, twenty, and so on to fifty by ten-mile stages, 
and may then be sent from sixteen to thirty miles at a stretch, but probably at the loss of a good 
many birds. 
“ The Belgian method of training is pretty much the same as described above, except that the 
stages are, after fifty miles, exceedingly severe, the birds being sent fifty, a hundred, and even 
more miles at a single stage; but the losses among these birds are likewise proportionately heavy 
in bad weather. Some of the best lofts in Belgium have been fearfully depopulated at a single 
stage. 
“Young birds should not be thrown in the evening or late in the afternoon. The morning is 
the proper time, when they are fresh and sharp. When the birds are well in for their training, one 
soon sees which birds are likely to turn out the fastest, and under what conditions. At every throw, 
the time should be taken as nearly as possible, the wind and weather noted, and the performance 
of each bird accurately recorded; and for this purpose a book may be ruled with columns, for date, 
description of bird, where from, time started, time arrived, wind, weather, and remarks. The various 
flights may then be put down, as they occur consecutively one after another, or each bird may 
have a separate page or half-page to itself, so as to have all its performances together. In this 
manner the owner can see at a glance what work each bird is doing ; and special attention should 
be given to the results so obtained, as it will be found that some or one of the birds will battle with 
a head wind much better than others or another, and will come better with the wind behind it, while 
a third will come with the wind or rain against it or without. One is thus enabled to tell pretty 
well, when waiting for the birds coming in, which will be home first of the lot sent, by the state of 
the weather at the time. 
“ Some amateurs keep their birds in the dark for a short time before flying, being of opinion 
that it makes them come more quickly ; and the Belgian amateurs prefer to keep their lofts rather 
darker than we do here. 
“ When the birds are in regular training, their bodies feel much more compact, their feathers 
are harder and closer to the body, and the birds altogether seem brisker, sharper, more healthy 
than when idle ; and there soon disappears the superfluous fat, which is quickly replaced by muscle. 
When taken in the hand, if in proper condition, the bird will have a sort of propensity to slip 
through the hands, the head up, and eyes looking out for a chance to be off and use the wings, 
which are ready and willing. The bird, in fact, appears to be in perfect trim and splendid 
mettle. 
“ In training the birds, it will be found in most cases impossible to send an attendant with 
them, when the distance is at all considerable, though this is the only certain plan of getting them 
thrown properly, and cared for as they ought to be ; but, as a rule, they must be intrusted to some 
one at their destination to be thrown, and have to risk the weather they are liberated in, and other 
hazards. If no friend reside at the place from which they are to be thrown, the ordinary course 
in practice is to consign them to the station-master, who has been communicated with beforehand, 
with the necessary instructions. Nearly all the masters are kind enough to give their assistance 
when allowed by their company ; and I believe the London and North-Western Company to be 
the only company which refuses to allow their station-masters to aid amateurs in this respect. 
As a general rule, the birds are thus liberated fairly enough. But if they arrive at the station 
