PIGEONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1906, Page 1

PIGEONS.

****««#»* From the N Z. Poultry Journal A PLKA FOR THE PIGEON FANCY. H.v A. If. Guthrie. I ill- man who does not take an interest in some kind of hobby, loses one of tin; greatest joys of the world. Among the many one can lake np, wo venture to say tnat none will he found more fascinatin'* 1 or interesting than the enjoyable hobby oi pigeon breeding. The keeping of fancy pigeons possesses many and' varied attractions not to he found in any other hobby. Consider the wonderful variety of form and colouring to bo found among the volnriioarian race. Look, for instance, at tlie classical Pouter noble in his pro portions, and a living exponent of (ho '■loelry of Motion.” Watch him blow, and then seemingly in (lie sheer joy of existence clap his wings, and almost, disdain (o touch the Mother Earth with his daintily feathered toes, and then yon will realise why in the .Scotsman’s opinion ho is:— 1 iie .rawest lord yon ever saw -\nd King of Doos—the "Pooler.” Then in your mind’s eye glance down the schedule of a pigeon division; consider the many claims to attention of (he massive and stalely old English Carrier, the military Dragoon, a veritable study in symmetrical beauty. The snakey and smart Magpie, perhaps ill most popular pigeon in Now Zealand to-dav, the beautiful Fantail. the Ladies’ Pet surely, the most graceful creature In the whole Feathered World—the lobby owls and Tnrbits, (he wonderful laced and marked Orientals, and the lovely feathered Jacobins, and then call to mind the dainty, htlle Miort-faecd Tumblers, with their (ol ’ky carriage and tip toe strutting. All of these and all the others not mentioned. flow well (hey repay culture! What joy there is in tile breeding of good specimens of any of them! wind interest in tlioir show performances! In 1 ho cmT'qro of fancy pigeons thorn Is, v.-o maintain, all tlio delimits of liowcrrowing, with this added attraction, that with fancy pigeons ono is really cnltivat“living flowers.” And how hcanfiindy fit) fancy pigeons repay all the car? ai'd attention osa> may hrr.tow nponthem; how pleasd they serin and how delichlfnlly Hey show llieir pleasure, when the friosu] who feeds and tends them (-liters lliosr loft/ 1 hey scorn to show their appreciation in their own dainty ways. -And then the joys of the breeding season, the lad and tenderness necessary to achieve good results. The anxious time when prospective champions are in the nest, and over and anon (ho triumph of producing a youngster of outstanding merit—all these pleasures the fancier knows, and wishes in his noart that many more know them. Jo all who are on the loolc-oufc for a nobby instructive and enjoyable to fill tlioir spare moments, to fire their enthusiasm and to provide* heautlful pets well v.orlhy of culture the fancy of pigeons must appeal, and to all such (lie fancy l‘i-con fraternity extends a hearty welrnmo. io novices, (he “old tins” of (ho ernft always, only too ready and willing to impart knowledge and give advice, anil we can assure all who tube up the hobby of fancy-pigeon keeping (hat they will always find the truest friendliness and comradeship existing among (hose who beep and cultivate these delightful members of the feathered race, and "May that wing of Friendship ne’er Moult a feather.” C’ASI'AL CODINGS. ’ ihe Nelson Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association has appointed Mr \V. 1!. McKenzie to judge the pigeon section at (he duly Show. The Association’s Executive has^ expressed its determination to make

this section a feature of the show. Pigeon fanciers rightly maintain that with a little more encouragement, they can make a display that will greatly add to the attractiveness of feather shows, and the Nelson Committee evidently consider it worth while to make a good effort lo secure increased pigeon entry. We understand that Mr McKenzie intends, OHIO more to enter the "Active Jji lsl ■” A year or two hack (he name of -McKenzie was one to conjure with when it came to I 1 nil classes, lie hred and exhibited perhaps the tincst specimens of Ahican owls seen in Australasia, notably two black cocks “Commandeer” and “\oung Commandeer.” Unfortunately for .the fancy, both have now joined the majority; he has boon successful in repurchasing a few remnants of his former stud, and we trust the same measure of success ho attained in the past, will be accorded him in the future. Doubtless, (he biggest success of last year’s Digcoii .Show season was (lie Wellington Society’s champion team’s class. Although quite a novelty for Now Zea Kind, a splendid response came from all parts of the colony, ft, must ho gratifymg to (lie promoters of (his competition to notice that the Christchurch Club lias Inn year placed a similar class on its schedule. As a variety Oriental Frills need no defence. We doubt if a prettier pigeon exi-ds; and in no variety can the pigeon fancier bring into play more skill, oat icnce and perseverance. Jt is therefore pleasing to record the success that lias been attained by one, who yet terms himself a novice as a pigeon breeder. It is hut eighteen months since that wellknown canary-fancier, Mr Dan Murphy, obtained from .Mr K, J. Fallu a pair or two of stock birds; Vet today he is (lie proud possessor of a most select stud of this charming variety, and his youngsters, especially the Rlondnutts, are cjuile a show in themselves. Dan promises fair to become as strong an opponent in pigeons as ho has proved himself union" 1 the canaries. ° Aii Aucklander, who is a most enthusiastic fancier and enterprising importer, is not going to suffer Auckland to any longer he behind Wellington in (ho matter of Frilled Pigeons. Included in a recent shipment from Homo were three pairs of Turhits, a pair of English Uwls, and a pair of .African Owls. Among those are several good exhibition birds that will certainly he heard of this coming show season, provided their munlling proceeds mi right lines. The English Owl cock (a Watnongh, wo understand) and (ho 1 urhit hens will take sonic heating. A keen Wellingtoiiian admirer of “Pills” has expressed the opinion that a pair of Line

lurliils included in I lie shipment are l miles ahead of anything of the colour wo have hitherto had in the colony. They are pure Widgers, and are said to possess the (rue "Widgerian” quality from their frentals to thoir tail-tips. Mr J. Noble, of Sydney, who won the North Island Association’s Frill Championships at Wellington last year, intends to ho represented at Palmerston North, and will make a hold bid to annex the championship outright. He is evidently confident that although the Manawatu Poultry Association’s schedule would appear to block him from competing, the North Island Controlling Association will sec that all Frilled varieties are included in (ho competition. The Sydney cracks are not likely to have matters all their own way, as, from what wo can gather, there are several young Drills maturing in New Zealand ’ lofts quite capable of makin gthems warm for the very best. Wellington can justly lay claim to being the premier pigeon sow of the colony, and its enthusiastic little colony of pigeon fanciers are leaving no stone unturned lo maintain its reputation. ’They are working hard to, produce as attractive a schodide as possible. The Champion Teams’ Class, of course, will again ho a promimnf and well-endowed feature, and still another attractive innovation will nnnenr in the shape of a “Magpie Spoon Com petition.” This competition, inspired by the great success of (he English Magpie Chili, has been made possible by "'the generous support of many Now Zealand representative Magpie breeders.