THE PIGEON LOFTS AT SANDRINGHAM.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9940, 11 December 1900, Page 7

THE PIGEON LOFTS AT SANDRINGHAM.

The pigeon lofts belonging to Prince of Wales and the Duke of York are of more than ordinary interest at the present time, when the question of the utilisation of homing pigeons for military purposes is attracting considerable attention. In this country (says the London Standard) a beginning is to be made ; and orders have been received at Aldershot to choose a suitable spot, and there to erect a properly-equipped loft, under the charge of an officer. The value of the pigeon posts maintained by Continental armies [is well known, and within the last few days the announcement has been made that the Belgian War Department have decided to extend its military pigeon system. Very shortly the famous loft in the old citadel of Namur will be considerably enlarged, not only for the accommodation of trained birds, but new compartments are to be constructed which will be entirely devoted to breeding purposes. Under these circumstances, it ie permissible to emphasise the facts that the lofts at Sandringham are not mere ornamental adjuncts to the Royal country house?, but that the birds have been carefully selected, properly trained for flight, and have done a considerable amount of real work. Both the lofts are under the superintendence of Mr Jones, who has been interested in homing pigeons for the last thirty years, and are within a short distance of hie residence. In both, the birds have the advantage of a large aviary in the open, to and from which they can pass by the simple expedient of a narrow coveied way. This gives them the advantage of plenty of fresh air, and tends to keep them in condition. Above tne inner and sheltered part is the loft proper, to which the birds return when homing after a flight or exercise, with openings in the roof, furnished with bubs—pieces of hanging wire a little longer than the opeuings, so as to admit of the birds flying in, but effectually preventing them from flying out. The numbers kept are not large, but, as might be expected, great care is taken to procure good birds, and no trouble is spared in keeping them in health and condition. The result is an extremely good, serviceable lot, which have done exceedingly well, wherever they have been tossed. Indeed, considering the relatively small number of birds and the hosts of competitors in the long distance races foi which they have been entered, the total of wins-standing to the credit of the Royalowner=iscommendably large. Though good birds are bought from time to time, many are bred in the lofts. Great attention is paid to mating : for Mr Jones is a firm believer in the advantages to be derived from breeding from birds that show determination and intelligence, and have already done well in the lotts. He is of opinion that the determination of the birds to get home, combined with the intelligence to take advantage of the slightest hint afforded by landmarks as to direction, is as great a factor in the performances of homine pigeons as the training by tossing at increasing distances. This, however, is not a concession to the theory of a homing instinct;. but a reasoned endeavor to perpetuate good natural qualities by suitable mating, and to assist and intensify these qualities as far as possible by training.