286 
The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
the following morning to the starting-point. The starter telegraphs the time of the start, and each 
member on the arrival of his bird must telegraph to the rooms the description of the bird, number , 
and letter ; the latter of course he cannot know until he sees it on the bird, and must in the evening 
produce the bird alive at the rooms. The time is taken from the time of ‘ handing in ’ the message 
to the telegraph clerk, less the allowance for the distance from the loft to the telegraph office. The 
distances of each bird, and the time of each, are then the basis of classification of the winners ; the 
bird doing the greatest number of yards in a minute wins, the bird doing the next number to be 
second, and so on. Thus each bird is classified according to his own actual and individual speed. 
“ The whole of the numbers, marks, &c., distances, and times, are entered in a racing register 
kept for the purpose. 
“ For the young birds a special stamp and set of numbers is kept, so as to distinguish them 
from the old ones at the latter end of the season, when the young birds’ races come off. This 
system seems to be as fair as possible to all competitors, and the objectionable practice of running 
with the birds through the streets, and taking the time from the production of the same, is super- 
seded, thus enabling the whole thing to be carried out quietly and without much risk of failure, 
except through actual fraud, which has no place in a society of gentlemen. 
“ In any race which occupies more than one day between the start and the arrival of any of 
the winners, the better plan is not to count against the birds the hours from sunset to sunrise, as 
no bird would be likely to be actually flying during that time ; and such an arrangement prevents 
any unfairness in favour of a bird just reaching his house at night, as against another bird which 
has to fly a much greater distance on the following morning, having flown up to dark, possibly in 
company with, and therefore at an equal speed with, the one having the shorter distance. Thus, 
if two birds, A and B, are flying from Berwick, A to go to Peterborough and B to London, both arriving 
at Peterborough together at sunset, A goes into its loft, possibly taking first prize, while B, which has 
flown at an equal speed, may start again in the morning, and fly on to London still faster, but be 
placed low down on the list, because he would have the hours of the night reckoned against him. 
This is avoided by the plan above recommended and now coming into vogue. 
“ The formation of Societies is the grand means of cultivating the Homing Pigeon ; and to all 
who desire to train cheaply, whether they are prepared to race or not, opportunities are now 
offered, so far as London and the suburbs are concerned, of doing so themselves, as well as of 
aiding others, by supporting Societies which have for one of their objects the raising of the status of 
pigeon-flying as a sport. 
“The uses of the Homing Pigeon have been fully exemplified already by what took place 
during the Franco-German War of 1870— 71, and the result is that nearly every European country 
except England has adopted the bird as a means of conveying military intelligence ; and mili- 
tary lofts are being rapidly established in all parts of the Continent. In ordinary times of peace 
they are of great use in conveying any kind of intelligence, if good birds are used and properly 
trained, so that some dependence may be placed upon them. The sport is growing fast, and 
promises soon to become popular, as it is even now supported by many members of the middle and 
upper classes.” 
One of the most difficult questions to decide in connection with Pigeon Shows is the proper 
status of Homing Pigeons as regards the show-pen. At a large proportion of exhibitions now, a 
class is added “for the best Homing bird and no class so invariably gives rise to a large amount 
of dissatisfaction with the awards. The reason of this will be seen if the plate of Homing Pigeons 
be compared with any of the representations we have already given of Long-faced Antwerps. By 
