HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 57

HOMING NOTES.

Bi Mausta Mealt.

He who would be to the fore during the coming season has no easy task to perform Daily it becomes more and more apparent that the man makes the bird, and not the bird the man. Fanciers are fast tumbling to the fact that to leave anything to chance means almost certain failure. True, by the merest fluke, the veriest duffer may head the list on a "blow home" day, but it i« not under such circumstances the true sportsman longs to shine. Stamina, endurance, and intelligence are prime factors to success in races that are won with velocities below 1000 yards.

To those desirous of shining on " dark " days, I would tendei a little advice. The question of food ha® been dished up " times emd oft," but a word on this score must bo pardoned. I wiU not elaborately dwell on this point, but simply say: "Whatever you, do feed on, let it be of the •best." It is not fat, but muscle, that needs cherishing. The properties of the various kinds of grain are fairly well understood by the average fancier. Who does not know that maize is fattening, and that peas and beans are highly strengthening. One needs but to note the change tha-t takes place in a horse when #iven bean meal. His coat shines, v he' becomes teeming with spirit* in fact he is a new creature. Until you can see your birds disporting themselves likewise, " your star will never be in the ascendant." Lend a helping hand some evening when the various members' birds are beingr rung and basketed at the club room. Unconsciously, you weigh up the various men's chances You form your conclusions by the way the; birds look and handle. Verily, I think we are more critical with others than with our pwn. We are so vsed to our own that we assume they are as fit as fiddles. I have before said " Man know thyself," I will now say "Man know thy birds." It is only by constant care, constant watching and indefatigable attention to details that you will be able to say, "Well its uot my fault I must get some better, stuff." "

Two members of the North Otago Pigeon Flying Club (R. Brookfer and C. Eccles) flew 12 birds from Half Moon Bay, Stewart Island, on August 27. a distance of 210 miles. The record time of 3hr 25min was returned, which fhows a velocity of 1789 yards per minute, the fastest time ever made under the auspicee of the club. The birds were liberated by Mr J. Gooddll at 8 a.m., with a good wind in their favour, although it was raining in Dunedin. Ten birds arrived to the owners' lofts at 11.25 a.m., the ether two coming, very shortly after. Recently the club flew off its champion bird's race from Invero&rgill, the first bird (Mr J. James's candidate) taking 3Jhrs, so that the performance put up by the birds belonging to Messrs Brooker and Eccles is a. particularly good one.