I

WANT, if possible, to bring home to the public conscience the degrading cruelty of that form of so-called "sport" known as pigeon shooting. I am well aware that many gentlemen skilled in the use of the gun have already settled the matter for themselves by inaugurating clay pigeon clubs, and it is to their honour that they have done so. How those who still maintain the practice of shooting live tame pigeons are to be dealt with is a matter deserving serious consideration. Harrowing stories occasionally reach me of the cruelty and demoralization of the practice, and they suggest the question to my mindWhat race of creatures are we breedingmen, or cowardly demons? There are fashionable and socially exclusive pigeonshooting clubs, such as that at Hurlingham, on the Thame-side, and there are the matches for the lower classes got up very frequently by publicans in fields adjacent to licensed premises and which lead to betting and unnecessary drinking. One of the worst features is the brutal joy and ferocity exhibited by some of the low-class ruffians who attend these latter; for a retired army officer once told me, amongst many sickening details, that he saw a blackguard kick a bird that could not fly. (It must be remembered that some of the birds, from being crowded together in hampers, are quite unable to rise when the lid of the trap is opened.)

Colonel Coulson, J.P., of Fourstones-onTyne, Northumberland, informs me that he has never witnessed a more despicable proceeding than that involved in shooting. matches of this character. The pigeons after collection are imprisoned in a box, carted to the scene of slaughter, placed in traps, and then at a given signal released. Some rise quickly, and the sportsman (?) only a few yards off, fires a gun. He may kill the bird; he may merely wound it. Frequently it just manages to get away,

only to die of its wounds. Sometimes it fails to rise from the trap, and then you may see some of the ruffians standing round throw their caps with blasphemous imprecations at the frightened, fluttering birds. Colonel Coulson says:

"I happened one afternoon to take my stand beside a barn, about half a mile from which one of these horrid matches was proceeding. I had not been there many minutes before a pigeon alighted on the roof of the building. I soon saw that it was one that had managed to run the gauntlet of the loafers with guns who usually stand round the shooting enclosure, as well as the guns of the competitors. The poor thing was wounded, and severely. Blood dropped from its bill, its head drooped, giddiness seemed to seize it, and at last it fell dead at my feet."

Other correspondents have told me. equally harrowing tales.

In a debate in the House of Commons, in 1883, the late Lord Randolph Churchill thus described in his own experiences (see "Hansard"):

"Lord Randolph Churchill said, in his opinion, the sight of a pigeon ground abounding with masses of feathers and blood and wounded birds surrounding the trap, contrasting so hideously with the green grass and trees all around, was, without exception, the most horrible and repulsive sight possible to imagine. Reference had been made to the pigeon ground at Monte Carlo. He had had the opportunity of watching the sight at Monte Carlo, though he never had the satisfaction of killing a pigeon himself. The pigeon shooting at Monte Carlo was conducted on the same principles as that at Hurlingham, and under similar rules. He saw the birds taken out of the basket, and before being put into the trap a man cut their tails with a large pair of scissors. That, probably, was not very cruel, because he only cut the quill, though at times he seemed to cut very close. But worse followed. After cutting the tail he saw the man take the bird in one hand, and with the other tear a great bunch of feathers from the breast and stomach of every pigeon. On asking what he did that for, he replied that it was to stimulate the birds, in order that, maddened by excitement and pain, they might take a more

eccentric leap into the air and increase the chance of the pigeon gamblers.

"He saw another very curious thing, too. One of the pigeons was struck and fell to the ground, but when the dog went to pick it up the wretched bird fluttered again into the air, and for an appreciable time it remained so fluttering, just a little higher than the dog could jump. While the bird's fate was thus trembling in the balance, the betting was fast and furious, and when at last the pigeon tumbled into the dog's jaws, he would never forgot the shout of triumph and yell of execration that rose from the ring-men and gentlemen. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pounds changed hands over the dying agonies of the unfortunate creature. They were told that there was actually no difference between that and other kinds of sport, but the fact was that pigeon shooting was now kept up simply for the sake of betting, and if the hon. member for Glasgow had chosen to deal with this subject by way of rendering it illegal to make bets at pigeon meetings, there would not be a single pigeon shot from one end of the country to the other." In the columns of the Star (London) have recently appeared the following pathetic letters which speak for themselves :

"THE PENSIONERS."
July 19th.

SIR,-To stick a pigeon, wring his neck, or shoot him dead means the same thing to the pigeon, and matters little to the public, and possibly high old sport can be found in seeing him drop when the gun goes off. No one can quarrel with the killing of pigeons, as they are an important item in the making of pies, and so far I am at one with the most inveterate pigeon killer-killer, mind you, but the most expert shot and veteran sportsman would not care to be condemned to watch the closing careers of those they simply maim. Situated within gunshot of the Hurlingham Club, whence an average of three out of every dozen put up escape more or less hurt, I am daily compelled to witness the distressing condition of the wounded and their melancholy end. It takes days of coaxing to tempt them from the roofs of the houses to drink the water they so much need. On the third day they do it or die. No wild bird is so shy of human beings, and no wonder. The painful feature in the end of wounded pigeons is that in addition to their wounds they die of starvation. Those who survive are my pensioners, and are safe, unless decoyed away by bird fanciers, when they are promptly sold back to the first club in England to again run the gauntlet. As I write there are two pigeons in the garden. One is seeking to balance himself on his unwounded leg-on the edge of the bird-bath-the other is dragging a leg and the end of a wing over the grass, and lies on his side to eat; while a third, with one eye only, is sitting by a dead one looking for water in the spout. "These are the witnesses." -Yours, &c., MARK MELFORD.*

Hurlingham, S.W.

Mr. Melford is the well-known dramatist.

July 20th.

SIR,-I beg to join issue with Mr. Melford's able letter of yesterday concerning the cruelty of pigeon-shooting at the Hurlingham Club. The gutters of my house adjoining are yearly obstructed by the remains of half-butchered birds that die by inches out of reach of any assistance.

The Princess of Wales declines to honour this club with her presence on account of her abhorrence of the cruelties of this so-called "sport." The birds are released from traps in a crippled and dazed condition, and many escape maimed, to die a miserable, lingering death.

Surely spring traps and clay birds would afford good enough sport and avoid the shock. ing cruelty that occurs in the neighbourhood of this club. FRANK ORME.

Hurlingham, S.W.

July 21st.

SIR, Mr. Mark Melford's letter in to-night's Star does credit to his humanity. Every word is true. My experience is the same of this socalled "sport." Some years ago I resided at Malden, near a field where these shooting matches were held, and having large lofts for my fancy pigeons, these poor strays found a refuge. On match days it made one's heart ache to see maimed pigeons struggle on to the roofs with tiny streams of blood trickling from them till they dropped off dead or exhausted. Loafers, big and little, followed the wounded birds, going so far as to climb my fences once to secure the birds. I say once because the presence of half a dozen not too amiable mastiffs was not conducive to a second visit. Yours, etc.,

GERALD GRAHAM, C.E. Hogarth House, Clapham, July 19th.

Passengers by the Underground Railway, journeying through Putney Bridge in the London season, note the troops of richly-dressed ladies, with their equally fashionably-attired escorts, who get out at Putney and proceed to Hurlingham, which adjoins. And knowing full well the sickening sights of suffering and wanton bloodshed which will follow the afternoon's sport (?) and pleasure they wonder that women countenance by their presence such a pitiable scene, unless the fountains of pity in their hearts are already dried up. It is positively inconceivable how they can troop to church on the following morning and sing and pray to Him, Who, we are told, is above all things, Merciful. word from a fashionable preacher might do much good. Why is it not spoken ?

One

Like master, like man. The lower class sportsman apes his betters. It is hopeless to attempt to reform one without the other. It cannot be gainsaid that pigeon-shooting is a vile, cruel and cowardly form of sport.

It is horrible-the callous infliction of suffering; it is pestilential-this continuance of cold-blooded cruelty. Is it to be put down by the intervention of Parliament, or is it to die by the mere pressure of public opinion? The latter, I am afraid, although the more preferable course, will not suffice with that small remnant of the public which is amenable to no compulsion save that of imprisonment. It is, therefore, a serious question for those who desire moral progress how far a "sport" (!) so cruel, so degrading, so brutalizing, which encourages in their most vicious forms gambling, excessive drinking, and the blood-lust, shall continue to flourish because there is no adequate law to deal with it. We complain of the brutal instincts of many of our people; we are shocked by daily records in the press of cowardly assaults, shootings, knifings, and murders, and we profess to wonder at people being worse than the lower animals. But in sanctioning the continuance of this so-called pastime we are directly couraging the evils we deplore, and the race gains the reverse of that which is best-courage, and respect for the lives and happiness of creatures weaker than ourselves.

en

MR. JOHN T. MARKLEY writes from Tunbridge Wells to the Echo (London):

"The reported resolve of the Local Govern. ment in Germany to prohibit competitive pigeon shooting at such a fashionable centre of visiting gaiety as Mecklenburg seems to have caused quite a flutter in Continental sporting

The Bleeding of Calves.

HOULD any of your readers feel, after

reading the pitiful account in your August number of the bleeding of calves, that, whilst doing all in their power to stop such atrocities they long to go a step further, and discontinue the use of meat for themselves, may I offer them a word of encouragement from my own experience. Eighteen months since, though believing that a certain proportion of meat was needful for health, at any rate in our climate, the cruelties connected with the procuring of it so weighed upon me, that I gave up all use of it.

The relief to heart and mind was great, but very great also the improvement in physical health, which, specially as regards rheumatic and gouty symptoms, was, and continues to be, most marked. I lead an active, busy life, and find myself much more equal to exertion than before taking the step alluded to.-I am, sir, yours truly,

PHOEBE W. GIBBINS.
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Aug. 8th, 1897.

circles. But genuine sport would gain in prestige if our own English Hurlingham, and such foreign resorts of the trap cowards as Monte Carlo, could be placed under the same restrictions as are now to be enforced at Mecklenburg. For years that noted German coast town has been reddened and disgraced by An Agony of Doves.'

"Lord Shaftesbury once-writing me from Salisbury--said: These pigeon matches, and the like of them, are simply detestable. But are held in the present "sport" and "science day to be an ample answer to any argument;' and further expressions of disgust reached me from the above-named noble Englishman.

"Mr. Spurgeon, equally emphatic in his love of birds, wrote: My judgment is heartily with you as to the brutality of pigeon shooting matches. I cannot make out how people, who are in other matters kind and gentle, can frequent these butcheries! I am very unwell, and hardly like to think of the woes of this creation.' The rest of the letter from the famous Nonconformist was in like strain.

"Miss Frances Power Cobbe, of literary repute, was equally disgusted with the bird slayers, and told me in one of her letters that she was deeply interested in the matter and in hopes of doing something through Parliament to prohibit these wretched and cruel sports.'

"Unfortunately, the English Parliament failed to rise to a great humane occasion, notwithstanding that I found nearly the whole of the great newspapers in London and the provinces some years ago backing up my defence of the tortured birds. Even such widely-differing issues also as Punch, the Lancet, the Live Stock Journal, and some of the purely sporting newspapers expressed a fine white scorn for the untold horrors of trap shooting."

The Birmingham Dog Owners
Protection Society.

MEETING of the above Society took place on the 12th inst., which was well attended. G. A. Barton, Esq., was in the chair, and was supported by Viscount Harberton, General Phelps, and others. Letters of apology were read from Dr. Lawson Tait, Rev. T. Howard, G. R. Sims, Esq., J. Rotherham, Esq. (Canine Doctor to the Queen), and several others, regretting their absence. The following resolution was passed without dissent:-"This meeting protests against the muzzling order, issued by the Agricultural Department, as an unnecessary interference with local authority, as cruel to the dogs, and ineffective against rabies, and recommends the system of registration with badges for identifying the owner, so as to fix responsibility on him."

The Society has been formed to secure proper treatment of dogs and all other animals.

A. W. BARNICOT (Hon. Sec.).