HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 64

HOMING NOTES.

Br Mausta Mealt.

The North Otago Pigeon Club's Flying Race from Seacliff, an air line of 51 miles, was won by F. Cbuper's Huntsman, who covered the distance in lhr 51min, or a velocity of 808 yds per minute against a Strong head wind and fog at Seacliff. J. and E. Baker's Te Apti, 807 yds lft 4in per minute, was second, and J. James's Romeo, 807 yds per minute, third. The other birds were: B. Yalpy'e Aqua Regia, 806 yds 2ft; W. Gray's bird, 805 yds; J. 'ShortalPs Hunter 11, 803 yds; J. Robertson's Federa--tion, 801 yds lft; C. Eccles's Waimate, 798 yds. A. Manton and F. Cooney did not time- in. Huntsman and Romeo were bred' 1 * by Mr A. Hunt, of Ohristchurch, thiß being the former's third win this season. Te Apti was bred by the owners. The North Otago Pigeon Flying Club's^ Interval Race was from Timaru. The birds had to face a strong south-east wind and very heavy rain, especially at Timaru, where it was also foggy. B. Valpy's M. Groqter won by a very substantial margin, beating the second bird by 25min and the third by 57min, thus winning Mr Harry Brown's trophy. Results :--B. Valpy's M. Grooter, lhr 19min, velocity 1114 yds per minute, 1; J. Robertson's Hunter, lhr 44min, velocity 847 yds per minute, 2; F._ Couper's Merriwing, 2hr 16min, velocity 648 yds per minute, 3. J. Shortall, T. Cooney, and J. and E. Baker's timed in as given some time later, while W. Gordon, J. Meikle, W. Jardine, C. Eccles, D. Wright, and A. Manton did not time in. Mr B. J. Finnegan, of Dunedin, bred M. Grooter, by oaons. Grooter, ex Lady Butts. M. Grooier has now won three successive races, two of which have been hard intervals. Hqnter was bred by Mr A. Hunt, Chriatohurch, and is performing very consistently this season. Mr J. Robertson bred Merriwing, who has been placed before for Mr Couper.

"Colombine" in Homing Pigeon writes: I would utter a note of warning to juniors in our ranks not to allow too much latitude to an inclination which, possibly naturally at this juncture perturbs their minds — viz., to multiply as rapidly as possible progeny from breeders thftt are known to be reliable producers of meritorious stock. There is great temptation, certainly, when a fancier has acquired a pair or more stock birds of known class, probably at .considerable outlay ? to recoup himself as speedily as is practicable, but almost invariably it is wisest to proceed with caution. "Hasten slowly; he stumbles who runtl" is an ex-

cellent motto foi - the homing, pigeon breeder. I have known instances in which the first and second layings have been abstracted from the nest of a pair of birds and placed under the charge of fosterparents, the original couple being permitted only to hateK and rear tt« third layincr, whilst later the practice has been repeated, and this during the course of one breeding season. It involves great danger to the birds, danger which may not be apparent at the outset^ but "which will lead to disaster later, particularly in the case of the hen. I do not go the length of saying that eggs which may specially be desired from a couple -of birds should not under any conditions be abstracted, but circumspection is essential in order to avoid the risk of untoward happenings to the parents. When the beginner has decided to take the eggs from one couple and place them in charge of another, he should endeavour to arrange that the layings take place as nearly as possible simultaneously. Then permit incubation to proceed for 10 or 12 days prior to the removal. This will afford to the hen the period needful for recuperation of the generative organs prior to preparation for the second hatch; but the practice "should not be resorted to systematically. Another "trick of the trade" sometimes resorted to by the "cute division," having. special reasons for rapidly producing youngsters of a strain that may be desired, is to allot two hens to one mate. The process is simplicity itself, •assuming that there is space at command. Two lofts are requisite, one for each hen. A coupling is effected, in due course succeeded by laying. The pair are permitted to sit for a few days, after which the cock is mated to the second hen, the first one meanwhile being kept in repose. The pace is regulated by the number of foster-parents available, and the extent of the disregard vjfor the welfare of the breeders. There are, however, cogent objections to the systematic use of foster-parents at all. Obviously, these are of inferior strain, assuming that the creatures possess any claim to such designation. Thus, there is probability of contamination amonggt the select, a contingency which to my knowledge has arisen upon more than one occasion. There is also the possibility of mistakes arising, these, of course, quite innocently leading to trouble, and, lastly, in the oase of squeakers that are sold, and failing satisfactorily to- withstand the tests imposed -upon them, perturbation of mind, the outcome , of suspicion that everything connected with the transaction has not been quite straightforward. Therefore, my advice to junior readers is to avoid as completely as' possible the utilisation of fosterparents, but in the event of these being deemed essential, see to it that they are not picked xm indiscriminately, but only after careful "selection, due regard being observed that from the point of view of blood they are .in no wise inferior in ouality to the remaining inhabitants of the loft.