Beeton's book of poultry and domestic animals - Thurman Lodge ...

THE CAHMER PIGEON.
Maestricht, and to show what speed was expected of the little
aerial travellers, the foremost one lost, although its
averaged more than forty-five miles an hour.
speed had
Among other given purposes for which this bird of speedy
flight has been used, is that of assisting in the capture of
smugglers. Captain Gouland who, some years ago, was won-
derfully Buccessfol in arresting the contrabandists tra'fling in
the vicinity of Dover, kept a large flight, and had agents on
the continent, who despatched his birds with the intelligence
when cargoes of contraband goods might be expected. This
having been practised for some time, the smugglers procured
hawks to kill the pigeons when let off, thus
of the captain's winged scouts.
destroying many
" The carrier pigeon fancy," says good " old English
Mowbray, writing thirty years ago, " has never since been
80 prevalent in this country as it was sixty years ago.
Men's minds have assumed a direction entirely opposite to
that of sportive amusements; political reform and the re-
dress of ancient grievances are now the popular substitute
for pigeon flying." It is, of course, like my impertinence
to question the sentiments of a writer who so wrote about the
period of my weaning ; but, with all due respect to Mr. Mowbray,
I must think that reform and the redress of national
grievances is no mean substitute for pigeon flying. My advice
to the amateur pigeon-keeper is, that he had better take to
politics or even worse, than meddle with " carriiers." Be
careful in your dealings with the "swift messenger," or even
with his immediate cross-bred progeny. Carriers are not the
most prolific breeders, and certainly not the most affectionate'
parents. They wiU frequently turn their eggs out of the nest,
ar wantonly break them, rather than be troubled with the
cares of hatching. If, however, the amateur is bent on keep-
ing carriers, the best course he can pursue is, first to disopver
that rcwa avis, a trustworthy bird-dealer, and then to purchase
of him some newly-laid carrier's eggs. These he may place
under a she " dragon," who, belying her name, is the most
careful of pigeon-mothers. By all means avoid the purchase
of old carriers ; he who is so rash may depend he has seen the
last of them the very first time he lets them loose.
I have a valuable bit of advice to give respecting breeding
generally, and it may as well be given here as elsewhere.
Never breed " in and m." That is, never attempt to stock
your dormer from a single pair. If you do attempt it, the
sea
24,
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