THE EARLY PIONEERS OF PIGEON RACING. 

Here is what E. H. Crow had to say during 1910.

ENGLAND TO THE FORE.

Those who have had the good fortune to travel extensively upon the Continent, or in our Colonies, will have frequently been impressed with what pride for anything "English" in the form of pedigree livestock, is referred to. For generations past England has been the 'hub of the universe' for 'perfectionising' almost all classes of useful and ornamental animal life. English Thoroughbreds, Cleveland Bays, Shire horses, and Hackneys are in demand the world over. Dogs of almost every breed emanating from our shores are looked upon as all that can be desired. Fox-Terriers, Airedales, sporting dogs, even St. Bernard's coming from the "old country" are now synonymous with the highest pitch of perfection. Poultry, many varieties of pigeons and even canaries, have a world wide reputation.

By certain politicians we are told our commercial supremacy is fast waning. Be this as it may, we still stand supreme for our knowledge of animal life, especially if they appeal in any way towards the sporting instincts of gay humanity. (gay had a different meaning during 1910); however, the charm of long distance pigeon racing in England is barely a quarter of a century old. Still less is this the case in our colonies and the United States, Germany and France have made valuable use for pigeons for military purposes, and these countries are now becoming infatuated with the sport of pigeon racing.

It is well known that for nearly a century the Belgians have been strenuously endeavouring to produce pigeons that would withstand the fatigues of journeys up to almost 1,000 miles. With what success is well known by all with a fascination for the instincts of homing. Our Belgian friends have had no easy task in 'fixing' these traits, and in their endeavours have had to make use of several of our English varieties, notably the 'Dragoon.' I t has been a case of sound in 'wind and limb', in addition to that mystic power of orientation, manifest not only in pigeons, but in cats, dogs, and all migratory birds. It is this mysterious, subtle-may I say sixth-sense that calls forth the admiration of us all. How surely this has been established, this love of home, and how to find it, that appeals to the world at large. Not only the homing instinct has been developed, but power of speedy flight has been trained to a high pitch. It is to the English Fancy that I most strongly appeal to step in and still further cultivate the power of endurance, powers we have exceptional facilities to improve.

Difficult as may be the task for pigeons to make good their return on the Continent, it cannot be compared with what ours have to encounter. The density of our atmosphere, owing to our insular position, the widely extensive smoke-laden manufacturing districts, the contour of our country, the ever changing climatic conditions, the difficulty of crossing the Channel form an ever increasing test to pluck, endurance and vitality our Belgian fanciers birds rarely experience.

Here's our opportunity. A bird that can withstand with any degree of certainty, these obstacles must surely enhance the value of our English product. A persistent pursuance of the improvement of this trait must in the long run make those wishing to improve their stock look toward England rather than Belgium as the only place to obtain birds fulfilling every quality essential to success. Yea, I would go so far as to say in the near future the Belgians will have to come to us when they would further improve these aerial prodigies they have so ably brought into existence. As example of what course I would suggest, I would instance the weeding process essential to success "on the Turf". I wonder how many racehorses are annually 'shot off' that fail to come up to the required standard of excellence. Do we pursue the same process of elimination? I doubt it. As long as we harbour birds that have homed 500-600 miles regardless of whether they have taken one week or one year to accomplish the feat, we shall hold ourselves unworthy of the confidence I would have reposed in us. We must perpetuate a strain that can, with almost unerring certainty, acquit themselves in a day, when and where others fail.

We have a huge task before us. Not 1 in 100 that pass through our hands should be deemed worthy of perpetuating a strain. Parr's 'Daisy', Orchardson's '40', Pulley's 'Albert', Stow's 'Reliance', Burton's 'Alfonso', Thoroughgood's '1008', Wormald's twice Mirande, Evangelisti's 'Vagabond', and 'Marconi', Reynold's 'Victor' and last but by no means least, J. L. Baker's 'Little Wonder', and 'Ironsides' are a few notable instances of birds that have been able to hold their reputation in long and trying races. If we tenaciously breed to find pigeons of their calibre, and tolerate nothing but what comes up to the highest standard of pluck, speed, and endurance, we shall gain the same confidence of the whole world as is reposed in the breeds I have called to attention, that appeal to the sporting instincts of those who would be to the fore.

	To finish off this journey into the past what finer fancier could be found other than George Gits, Editor of Le Moniteure Columbophile, Bruxelles and the doyen's opinion upon pigeon graders.
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THE NEW SCHOOL OF FANCIERS. 

For some little time there has existed in Brussels a little group of individuals having for title 'Professors of the New School of Columbiculture', who visit lofts to classify and select pigeons. They profess that all matters relating to pigeons, in the matter of rearing, selecting and mating, which have existed up till the present time are useless. According to them, the principles which have been the glory of the Belgian Fancy, and which have won a world wide reputation, in such a manner that it is from Belgium that the fanciers of other countries come, to buy their stock birds - that these principles, I repeat - have no value and should be replaced by theirs. By these creators of the new school the great fanciers of former times, the Grooters, the Wegges, the Vanschingen, the Delmottes, the Ullens, the Vanderlindens and so many others (only mentioning those who have sadly departed) were but empirics who built up the Fancy by chance; while they themselves have infallible principles. While the great breeders of horses, cattle, fowl, etc., search for reproducers of origin to ameliorate their strain, for which they have to pay high prices, these new prophets affirm that the origin and performances of their ancestors were useless things to know; that their pretended science teaches them to discern in subjects of chance - birds bought at a low price from farms, or bought at the market - those that it is necessary to mate, to constitute in a little time, a loft of renown. It goes without saying that one must pay them for their advice; that appears to be the clearest of the advantages to their method.

They go still further. They have the over weaning pretension of being able by the simple examination of the eyes of the pigeons to divide them in categories; thorough good pigeons, those who are swift, or those simply good for eating. They don't require more than half an hour to thus classify a loft of from 25 -30 couples and it is not rare to see them point out for culling one of the best subjects in the loft because its eye is not to respond to their theory. In certain parts of our country the attraction of this new school has in spite of the absurdity of the system, brought about numerous clients to these charlatans. It is right to add that the disillusions have been numerous, and that many have regretted the money they have thrown away. The reign of these false prophets is threatened in all parts, and time is not far distant when they will fall into the oblivion that they merit. Thus as I have above said, it is in the examinations of the eyes where lies this pretended "Secret of the Fancy". The eye is the great criterion of value of the pigeon, they say. All other corporal qualities are but accessories. Imagine a trainer of a breeding stud judging a stallion by its eyes and disdaining to examine it upon its form! The development of its chest, the seat of respiration, the good formation of the wings, organs, of locomotion; and are they not for the pigeon compelled to fly long distances, primordial qualities, without which the best sight in the world would be useless!

Again what has the colour of the iris to do with the quality of the sight, that these are white, brown or orange? It is not the iris that is the seat of sight, but the obscure chamber in which are reflected the rays which have crossed the pupil. The size of this is essentially variable, according to the more or less brilliancy of the luminous rays. It is, then, absurd to pretend that a pigeon has a pupil too big or too small, for it is the one or the other according to circumstances of light. These theorists of whom I speak establish as dogma that a pigeon having eyes specked with red is a bad pigeon - both as a racer and breeder. That is a heresy contradicted by facts. I can name notably my celebrated 'Donkeren', which had a white eye speckled; all of its descendant, among which my excellent birds called 'Dax' - because every year they won prizes in the Grand National from Dax to Brussels - present the name peculiarity, and as for twenty years this strain has distinguished itself it cannot be a question of degeneration! It is by such errors that they deceive fanciers in making them eliminate from their lofts good pigeons, condemned by ignorance having the pretension of being learned! I wish that the English fancy be preserved from such false prophets!

Comment from Steve Spinks - well it would appear that George Gits didn't get his wish and selectors, graders, eye evaluators flourished. Books and videos in abundance to fuel this still controversial subject and as a scribe I have heard some horrendous stories of professional graders mistakes and loft ruination. However you pays your money and you gets your choice! I found the old manuscripts to be very interesting