HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 58

HOMING NOTES.

Br Mausta Mealy.

At from nine to ten weeks old, the I young pigeons having by this time learned the bearings of the outside ot their lott, begin to make tours round the country, sometimes flying for an hour and a-half at a time. It is then thai their owner begins gradually to educate their minds as to what will be required of them in i their future lite. At about 12 weeks old they are placed in special baskets manufactured for the purpose, and then taken | about a mile away from their home, the i ! wisest policy beina: to liberate one at a ! time:- Small circles are made by the bird upon being released, and, having sighted | ; some familiar object, it flies towards the ] loft. Here the owner is usually in waiting with a little tempting seed to encourage the novice to enter without hesitation, Jor it must be remembered in pigeon racing the time lost by pigeons upon the housetops after arrival from a race counts I against the owner's chance of success. After the one-mile stage the distance is increased to two miles. Then to five, and afterwards by gradually increasing stages of 10 miles at a time until the young bird, at the age of four or five months, i "can fly with ease from 100 to ISO miles. J This finishes the education of the bird as a youngster. * Various opinions have been expressed as | to whether pigeons are - guided to their homes by sight"br instinct. All birds have a tendency to return to their nests and young. By breeding from the most intelligent birds this has been developed in the nigeori. The birds have a prodigious memory, as often after six years' confinement they have returned to their old home. Training educates their memory and habit of returning until they acquire an " instinct of direction.'' 'Trained birds taken increasing distances immediately strike off in the right direction for their homes, and when within measurable distance sight and memory come to their aid. But the pigeon has no .instinct of migra- j tion like the swallow and other migratory | birds. The schedule of races in connection with the Dunedin Homing Club for this season i 3 as follows: — - Interval Races (North Line), one pen each loft. — September 16, Maheno, 51 miles; Sep- s tember 30, Grlenavy, 80 miles; October 14, St. ! Andrews, 102 miles; October 28, Ashburton, 151 miles ; Kbvember 25, Culverden, 250 miles, ! single bird championship. Interval Races (South Line).— December 2, Clinton, 56 miles; December 16, Gore, 86 miles;" January- 6, Invercargill, 130 miles; January 20, Orepuki, 150 miles. I"lock Races.— October "7, Ashburtan, - 151 -miles; October 21,- Raaigiora, 210 miles-; November 4, Kaikouras,, 3l2 miles; November 18," Cape Campbell, 360 miles; December 9, Kai'tftko, 400- miles; January 6, Napier, 527 miles. .Young' "Bird,. Races' {Interval).— April 7, Grlenavy, rBOr 80 mileSj -St. Lager; April 21, St. Andrews, 102: miles; Derby. ,