HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 36

HOMING NOTES.

Br Maubta Ml* li.

The Dunedin Homing Pigeon Club flew off a race last Saturday front Invexcargill, an air-line distance of 110 miles. Seventy-six birds, representing 20 lofts, competed. The pigeons were liberated by Mr A. B. Edmonds, of tbe Telephone Exchange, at 12.5 p.m., who wired wind light southwest. The winner also receives Mr Umbers'a trophy. The race resulted rs follows: — / Cecil Gore's Sweet .Lorna (time 2hr 16min ; velocity 1345ydi» 2ft 7in) 1 B. Umbers's Venus (time, 2hr 272min; velocity 1322 yds 2ft Zin) 2 Arthur Hunt's Boxme Blue (time, 2hr 25min; velocity 1322 yds lft- Tin) .. .. 3 J. Cox's Pills (time, 2hr 2S£min; velocity 1330 yds Oft 9m) 4 J. Knowles'6, jun., Paddy (time, 2hr 27}min; velocity 1319 yds lft 4in) .. ..5 The following also competed: — Messrs Henderson, Niven, Stone, Sewell, Veitch, Taylor, Finnegan Baker, Beeves. Hntchens, Gibson, Tattersfieid, Esquilant, Abernethy, and Fleming.

Mr Gore bred the winner of the Invercargili race- from Lorna Doone, ex Sweet Lavender, both bred by Mr Finnegan from lord Jurior ex Lady Butts and Mon3 Gerard ex Grannie. Sweet Lorna won first prize for 100-mile hens at the last Dunedin 6how, and is a model picture of a racer. Mr Hutchins's Cerise and Blue, the winner of the Caps Campbell race, was bred by J. Knovrles from Blue Blade II ex Blue Blood 11. bred by Frank Gibson from a paii of Monty Carruthers's famous blues. Nancy Jane, the second prize winner, was also bred by Mr Knowles from a Douglas cock ex a daughter of Jean Gerardy ano. Lady Didcot, sister of Apres Moi. Mr Veitch bred Game Lass from his Napier winner, Game Chick, and an Independence Daphne hen. Debonair was bred by F. Gibson from Blue Blood and Flying Spark. Grizzle Gran, the fifth bird, was bred by Mr fin-negan-from Mons Gran ex Griselda. Navigator was bred by J. Henderson, off Poisedon cock and a daughter of Blue Blade and Lady Gerard. Fifty pigeons are stn. mi&eing from the Cepe Campbell race. A letter was received from an Oamaru fancier last Monday by a member of the Dunedin Club informing him that about 18 pigeons were caught in OamartL Surely no genuine fancier of iie White City would hold stray pigeons, which are valuable to their ownei • The DunediD Chib have placed the particulars of -tlie xxxiesxnfg l>Lr«3& in ckarge o£ tlie Inspector of Police, so that any offenders who are caught with any of the missing' birds will have to appear before the court. A large number are secretly stamped*- axid can be identified even if the ring* are mining. Mr James Meikie, jun., hon. secretary of the North Ofcaeo Pigeon Club, reports having found dead a red chequer, rung 588 and SM. The bird belonged to Air Gib-" CCn, of Dunedin, and w.is competing in the Ckpe Campbell race. Mr Baker, of Oamaru, forwarded a Capo Quapbell bird of Mr Umbers's whioh had trapped at hia left. Mr Clark, of the ißank of Atw&Mfasia, Oamaru, caught a Dunadin. bird in the »vening, and very kindly liberated it at 3.30 the following morning. The DuoedJa Olub have asked me to thank all tba above-named gentleman for their i*vi aotkne. Mr E. J. Reere, of Bun»id€, foun-1 Ms Iftvovril* rac« Mat a in the loit inst *3uu-

day, from Napier. His other entry, llount Grand, arrived daring the week. Next Saturday's race will be flown from Orepuki. A hen homer pigeon strayed to Mr R. Hayward'e place at Rangiora last week. Its ring number is N.Z. 933, and it had also a rubber ring on, numbered 434. The bird is no doubt one of a large number that were sent north recently for racing purposes. A member of the Manawatu Flying Club bos been disqualified for life for beingunable to account for his raciiij? clock being 16 minutes ahead of the time that his bird arrived home in a recent race.