492 FANCIERS’ 
greatest attention and perseverance on the part of the Bel- 
gian amateurs; indeed, their capabilities were but gradually 
brought out. In the year abovementioned, a circumstance 
occurred which gave a great impetus to the already rising 
interest. It was the return of a Pigeon from Paris to its 
home at Verviers, a distance of over miles— a feat 
hitherto without precedent, and considered so wonderful 
that the bird, inclosed in a basket, was carried in triumph 
through the town, preceded by two men playing on violins, 
accompanied by two small pieces of ordnance, which were 
discharged at the entrance of the principal streets, to 
announce the arrival of the hero. 
Up to this period a few unimportant sociétés colombophiles 
had existed ; but now their growth was so rapid, that at the 
present time there is scarcely a Belgian village of any con- 
sideration without its society. L’ Epervier newspaper, pub- 
lished at Brussels, is the organ of three hundred such socie- 
ties, and confines itself to chronicling their movements, such 
as reporting races, announcing forthcoming meetings, ad- 
vertising rewards for strayed Pigeons, public sales, and 
nouvelles colombophiles in general. There also exist two 
societies, one offering rewards for the destruction of birds of 
prey, the other for prosecuting persons detected in poaching 
or injuring Pigeons; and within the last few weeks a peti- 
tion signed by upwards of four thousand amateurs has been 
presented to the Chamber of Representatives, urging still 
more stringent Jaws. 
The great race of the country takes place annually in July. 
It is organized in Brussels. In 1868 the number of birds 
engaged was fifteen hundred. Both the King and the Comte 
de Flandre give handsome presents, and the city of Brussels 
subscribes 900f. These facts show that theinterest taken in 
this national hobby is even more universal than that created 
by our English Derby. Before the introduction of railways 
in Belgium, the mode by which the societies’ Pigeons were 
trained was certainly economical, primitive, and picturesque. 
A charette (country cart) was engaged ; it was hooped over 
and covered in with canvas; perches and food were pro- 
vided for the use of the birds. The driver was directed to 
the local authorities of some distant town, who witnessed the 
flying and attested the fact. Another system, but even more 
primitive, was by the ‘‘ hotte,’”’ which was a wicker basket 
made to fit the shoulders and back of a convoyeur: the 
“hotte’’? was divided into five flats, or floors, each capable 
of holding ten Pigeons. With this load of fifty, the poor 
unfortunate wretch, with his still more unfortunate passen- 
gers, journeyed frequently ten or twelve days before they 
reached their destination ; the birds to obtain their liberty, 
and he his coveted certificate of the fulfilment of his engage- 
ment. Fortunately, facilities have grown with the neces- 
sity. The “charette’’ and “hotte”’ are things of the past.. 
It is now no uncommon sight on special days to see from 
three to four hundred baskets of Pigeons arrive at the same 
railway station, to be flown from that particular neighbor- 
hood under the superintendence of a commissionnaire ap- 
pointed by a confederation of sociétés colombophiles. 
The training of young birds is now conducted in Belgium 
in a much more systematic manner than it is in England. 
Here every one trains according to his notions, while in Bel- 
gium it is managed principally by the societies. Two 
methods appear to be in practice. In the first the young 
bird is not required to take part in any contest before the 
month of June or July; but before the close of the flying 
season will be expected to have done a journey of at least 

JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
one hundred and fifty miles. Some amateurs object to this 
training as being too severe, and prefer the second method, 
as follows: During the first year the young bird is only 
subjected to inconsiderable distances; the second year it is 
allowed to mature itself in idleness; but the third year, as 
it is then considered to have attained full development of all 
its faculties, it is retained until its performance is satisfactory, 
both in speed and distance. 
As examples of what Pigeons are capable of doing, I quote 
from an unquestionable living authority, M. F. Chapuis, 
M.D., and Doctor of Natural Science, of Verviers. In his 
published list of twenty-one races, or flies, he mentions one 
from St. Sebastian, in Spain, to Liege, in Belgium, a distance 
of five hundred and fifty miles, in sixteen hours. A Pigeon 
belonging to M. Grooters, of Brussels, has recently taken 
first prize in a race from Narbonne to Brussels, five hundred 
and ten miles. M. Ida Vivier, of Courtrai, in Belgium, 
possessed a bird that had flown from Belfast, Ireland, to 
Courtrai. Upon reference to the map this flight appears to 
be even more marvellous than the others, as the bird must 
have crossed St. George’s Channel, England, and the Irish 
Channel. Instances of long journeys performed by untrained 
birds are by no means uncommon. The last-named gentle- 
man recently possessed a bird that had flown from Chateau- 
roux, in France, to Courtrai, two hundred and seventy-six 
miles, without any training whatever, and this bird was an 
imported Black Dragoon. Itis very questionable if it would 
have done the distance in England at all; for it must be 
taken into consideration that the country passed over was 
remarkably favorable, there being few elevations, and a 
south wind usually prevailing, which would greatly facili- 
tate the passage of the bird. 
But although the Belgian voyageurs certainly excel any 
English breed in distance, ours have the advantage in speed ; 
for, upon examining the results of several races, I find the 
greatest velocity attained does not exceed five-eighths of a 
mile (one kilométre) per minute. A feature worthy of con- 
sideration, as a reason why the Belgian Pigeons excel in 
flying such distances in France and in theif own country, 
is that they are at a certain season of the year often driven 
(To be continued.) 
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