THE CHRONICLE OF A HOMING PIGEON
We passed through the side door of a big stable on West Nineteenth
Street。 The mild smell of the well…kept stalls was lost in the sweet odor of
hay； as we mounted a ladder and entered the long garret。 The south end
was walled off； and the familiar 〃Coo…oo； cooooo…oo； ruk…at…a…coo；〃 varied
with the 〃whirr； whirr； whirr〃 of wings； informed us that we were at the
pigeon…loft。
This was the home of a famous lot of birds； and to…day there was to be
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a race among fifty of the youngsters。 The owner of the loft had asked me；
as an unprejudiced outsider； to be judge in the contest。
It was a training race of the young birds。 They had been taken out for
short distances with their parents once or twice； then set free to return to
the loft。 Now for the first time they were to be flown without the old ones。
The point of start； Elizabeth； N。 J。； was a long journey for their first
unaided attempt。 〃But then；〃 the trainer remarked； 〃that's how we weed
out the fools； only the best birds make it； and that's all we want back。〃
There was another side to the flight。 It was to be a race among those
that did return。 Each of the men about the loft as well as several
neighboring fanciers were interested in one or other of the Homers。 They
made up a purse for the winner； and on me was to devolve the important
duty of deciding which should take the stakes。 Not the first bird back； but
the first bird into the loft； was to win； for one that returns to his
neighborhood merely； without immediately reporting at home； is of little
use as a letter…carrier。
The Homing Pigeon used to be called the Carrier because it carried
messages； but here I found that name restricted to the show bird； the
creature with absurdly developed wattles； the one that carries the messages
is now called the Homer； or Homing Pigeonthe bird that always comes
home。 These Pigeons are not of any special color； nor have they any of the
fancy adornments of the kind that figure in Bird shows。 They are not bred
for style； but for speed and for their mental gifts。 They must be true to
their home； able to return to it without fail。 The sense of direction is now
believed to be located in the bony labyrinth of the ear。 There is no creature
with finer sense of locality and direction than a good Homer； and the only
visible proofs of it are the great bulge on each side of the head over the
ears； and the superb wings that complete his equipment to obey the noble
impulse of home…love。 Now the mental and physical equipments of the last
lot of young birds were to be put to test。
Although there were plenty of witnesses； I thought it best to close all
but one of the pigeon…doors and stand ready to shut that behind the first
arrival。
I shall never forget the sensations of that day。 I had been warned：
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〃They start at 12； they should be here at 12：30； but look out； they come
like a whirlwind。 You hardly see them till they're in。〃
We were ranged along the inside of the loft； each with an eye to a
crack or a partly closed pigeon…door； anxiously scanning the southwestern
horizon； when one shouted： 〃Look outhere they come！〃 Like a white
cloud they burst into view； low skimming over the city roofs； around a
great chimney pile； and in two seconds after first being seen they were
back。 The flash of white； the rush of pinions； were all so sudden； so short；
that； though preparing； I was unprepared。 I was at the only open door。 A
whistling arrow of blue shot in； lashed my face with its pinions； and
passed。 I had hardly time to drop the little door； as a yell burst from the
men； 〃Arnaux！ Arnaux！ I told you he would。 Oh； he's a darling； only three
months old and a winnerhe's a little darling！〃 and Arnaux's owner danced；
more for joy in his bird than in the purse he had won。
The men sat or kneeled and watched him in positive reverence as he
gulped a quantity of water； then turned to the food…trough。
〃Look at that eye； those wings； and did you ever see such a breast？ Oh；
but he's the real grit！〃 so his owner prattled to the silent ones whose
birds had been defeated。
That was the first of Arnaux's exploits。 Best of fifty birds from a good
loft； his future was bright with promise。
He was invested with the silver anklet of the Sacred Order of the High
Homer。 It bore his number； 2590 C； a number which to…day means much
to all men in the world of the Homing Pigeon。
In that trial flight from Elizabeth only forty birds had returned。 It is
usually so。 Some were weak and got left behind； some were foolish and
strayed。 By this simple process of flight selection the pigeon…owners keep
improving their stock。 Of the ten； five were seen no more； but five
returned later that day； not all at once； but straggling in； the last of the
loiterers was a big； lubberly Blue Pigeon。 The man in the loft at the time
called： 〃Here comes that old sap…headed Blue that Jakey was betting on。 I
didn't suppose he would come back； and I didn't care； neither； for it's
my belief he has a streak of Pouter。〃
The Big Blue； also called 〃Corner…box〃 from the nest where he was
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hatched； had shown remarkable vigor from the first。 Though all were
about the same age； he had grown faster； was bigger； and incidentally
handsomer； though the fanciers cared little for that。 He seemed fully aware
of his importance； and early showed a disposition to bully his smaller
cousins。 His owner prophesied great things of him； but Billy； the stable…
man； had grave doubts over the length of his neck； the bigness of his crop；
his carriage； and his over…size。 〃A bird can't make time pushing a bag of
wind ahead of him。 Them long legs is dead weight； an' a neck like that
ain't got no gimp in it；〃 Billy would grunt disparagingly as he cleaned out
the loft of a morning。
II
The training of the birds went on after this at regular times。 The
distance from home； of the start； was 〃jumped〃 twenty…five or thirty miles
farther each day； and its direction changed till the Homers knew the
country for one hundred and fifty miles around New York。 The original
fifty birds dwindled to twenty； for the rigid process weeds out not only the
weak and ill…equipped； but those also who may have temporary ailments
or accidents； or who may make the mistake of over…eating at the start。
There were many fine birds in that flight； broad…breasted； bright…eyed；
long…winged creatures； formed for swiftest flight； for high unconscious
emprise； for these were destined to be messengers in the service of man in
times of serious need。 Their colors were mostly white； blue； or brown。
They wore no uniform； but each and all of the chosen remnant had the
brilliant eye and the bulging ears of the finest Homer blood； and； best and
choicest of all； nearly always first among them was little Arnaux。 He had
not much to distinguish him when at rest； for now all of the band had the
silver anklet； but in the air it was that Arnaux showed his make； and when
the opening of the hamper gave the order 〃Start；〃 it was Arnaux that first
got under way； soared to the height deemed needful to exclude all local
influence； divined the road to home； and took it； pausing not for food；
drink； or company。
Notwithstanding Billy's evil forecasts； the Big Blue of the Corner…box
was one of the chosen twenty。 Often he was late in returning； he never was
first； and sometimes when he came back hours behind the rest； it was plain
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that he was neither hungry nor thirsty； sure signs that he was a loiterer by
the way。 Still he had come back； and now he wore on his ankle； like the
rest； the sacred badge and a number from the roll of possible fame。 Billy
despised him； set him in poor contrast with Arnaux； but his owner would
reply： 〃Give him a chance；'soon ripe； soon rotten；' an' I always notice the
best bird is the slowest to show up at first。〃
Before a year little Arnaux had made a record。 The hardest of all work
is over the sea； for there is no chance of aid from landmarks； and the
hardest of all times at sea is in fog； for then even the sun is blotted out and
there is nothing whatever for guidance。 With memory； sight； and hearing
unavailable； the Homer has one thing left； and herein is his great strength；
the inborn sense of direction。 There is only one thing that can destroy this；
and that is fear； hence the necessity of a stout little heart between those
noble wings。
Arnaux； with two of his order