HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 54

HOMING NOTES.

Bt Mansta Mbalt.

Our sole attention now must., be to study the birds in order to get them fit for next year's events. Remember that to be successful you must give attention to your birds all the year round.

Good racing pigeons are cheap enough and plentiful enough. Often you can get a, cross of some of the best possible blood for a quarter what the parents cost the owners. • I mention this because some people place too great a value upon their birds — they pamper them. If you have the great good fortune to find you have a pair of stock birds that breed you birds that fly -well in the 300 or 400 mile races, by all means take care of them, but don't idolise a pair of stock -birds simply because' th«y have bred you a winner in some 50-mile or 100-mile young bird race. A VISIT TO DUNEDIN. /By Red Chequer, in the Canterbury Times). The day after my arrival was very wet. Despite this drawback I managed to pay a visit to Mr M. Holmes, who resides in Cameron street, Kensington. This fancier T found to be very keen. Mr Holmes has done well on the convincing ground, having successfully flown Wellington 400 miles. The bird that did this performance is a mealy cock, fairly well balanced, of good feather, not handsome, but of workmanlike appearance. Sylvester, the bird in question, has won the following prizes : — Third, Culverden (250 miles) ; second, Clarence River (312 miles) ; second, Wellington (400 miles). Very good going this, when one considers his age, he being only a yearling. I was not long in asking the particulars of two fine dark-blue chequers that I espied on their perches, and was not surprised when informed that they were bred by Mr F. Wilson, of Christchurch, from his recent importations. Since my visit the hen of the pair has placed a win to her credit, having won the Oaks Race, from St. Andrews, 102 miles. I hope Mr Holmes will reserve this pair for stock, for they are just the type that is required — no useless lumber to carry and plenty of feather to make use of when flying. Another likely bird, Rapua, also came from Mr Wilson's loft. He is a red chequer, much like his brother Kapua, a bird that flew splendidly for his breeder. Raptia flew Invereargill to Christchurch, and has flown from Orepuki for Mr Holmes. He is bred from the best strains, having Osman, Old Billy, Gigot, Jan»sen, Gito, and Barker blood in his

veins, so should produce good birds. Mr Holmes next pointed out a strong, \ipstanding, red chequer cock, bred by Mr F. Butterfield, Christchurch. The sire of this bird was bred by Mr J. L. Baker, of England, from brother and sister to his Little Wonder, winner of the National Race, from Bordeaux. Her parents were the famous 7 and 8, the most marvellous pair of stock birds the flying world has known. The dam of Mr Holmes's bird was also a near relative, bred by F. G. Edmoneon, Melbourne, so the Barker cock should prove invaluable for stock, especially when mated to Jiirion, Grooter, or De'lmsote hen. A likely-looking bird—a red chequer hen — I took a liking to I was informed came from Mr I. Hopkins, Auckland. She possesses good feather and intelligent expression, and is well built. Her sire combine* Smith's Newcastle and Hordern blood; her dam is a Daurinch. Two beautiful blu« chequer lions next claimed my attention. Finer birds it would be impossible to breed, and I would not like the task of separating these two in the show pen ; and if Mr Holmes continues to breed birds of this stamp he need never fear being placed far down in the race reports. Tight in feather, correctly built and of grand dispositions, they are the birds to keep — a pleasure to look at and manage. They combine Knight's best blood and Finnegan's Mons Gerard and Grannie. Another bird that will do good service for Mr Holmes is a powerful hen with the Wegge characteristics written all over her. This hen flew all stages Kaitoki to Christchurch as a yearling — good work when one considers the weather experienced in the vicinity of Cook Strait this season. She is three-fourths sister to Gerard's Petone, a very good and consistent worker over a number of seasons. She is also a near relative to Lady Hordern, the first bird into Ckrisfcchureh from the never-to-be-forgotten Taumaranui smash last season. Taking Mr Holmes'a team all round they were looking very fit, and if he can keep them like it until next racing season comes round he will take a lot of beating. He is very much in earnest, and the first-class way in which he keeps his birds must tell a tal© in the end. I notice Mr Holmes does not make the mistake often made of spreading sawdust on the floor of the loft instead of sand. The sand, a coarse yellowish stuff,' was obtained from the seashore, and gave the loft a very clean and wholesome app-earance.

I thank Mr Holmes for his kindness to me, and if ever I or any other fancier should pay him a visit I know he ■will be very pleased to again show his birds, for he is a right good sort, both as a sport and as a fancier.