The Cumulet and its ancestors (Part III)
By Helian GUISLAIN
Evolution of the
Cumulet/Highflier in the 20th century
From
the previous article parts it appeared clearly that the Cumulets that arrived
about 1870 by ship from Antwerp in England, together with other Belgian Homing
Pigeons (Smerles, Demi-Becs, Quart-Becs, etc.), could not be considered at that
time as a purebred breed, but rather as the result of multiple crossbreeding,
with however a series of common characteristics:
-
The inclination/urge for highflying
-
The white plumage, with sometimes red/yellow markings
on the neck.
-
The elegant slender appearance, with the large breast
of the Homing Pigeon.
-
The long elongated slim head, with a rather long white
bill.
-
The enamelled white eyes of the Redneck Pigeon.
It
is surprising that white or pied Homing Pigeons, as well show- sport or
squab-production strains (like the
thousands of pairs of white Homers in LEVI’s Palmetto pigeon-plant[1])
never show the white enamelled eye of the Redneck, but always the bull-eye of
the white Dragon. Apparently the pearl-eye was ‘reserved’ to the
Cumulet/Highflier.
We
have seen also that most of the numerous probable/likely ancestors of the
Cumulet had shown quite a high ranking as highfliers or messengers, whereas the
Cumulet itself was the co-genitor of the best sport-breeds in Western Europe.
The German author Axel SELL wonders[2]
what for grounds could have motivate the Iraqi at the top of the development of
pigeon post services (13th century) to chose[3]
for a white Red-Collar Pigeon[4]
as best messenger whilst white pigeons are a for sure a better target for
raptors. This remark ignores the fact that highflying has always been
considered as the best way for a messenger pigeon to see its loft from the
launching place. The better question wonders how a genetic mutation for high
fly could ever survive although these birds are more exposed to raptors and bad
weather conditions, and what for people ever was in a position to select such
pigeons. It is quite clear that these men are to be sought in the wealthier
upper class which could afford such an unproductive hobby, kings and regents
(as f.i. the Great Mogul Akbar)[5]
aware of the strategic value of a well organized postal service, but most
likely in the priest class, which for its prestige was, of course, most
interested in getting tame pigeons as messengers in the heavens and in the
neighbourhood of gods.
Experiments in launching pigeons from stratospheric balloons (TISSANDIER, 1883) having shown[6] that Homing Pigeons were unable to fly at heights over 15.000 feet, it became evident that highflying was unnecessary, because, due to the curvature of the earth, the pigeons could never ‘see’ their loft or its surroundings from a launching place hundreds of miles away, whatever their supposed visual acuity. Among the Belgian Voyageurs, the Cumulet thus became disposable, and all highflying Homers were progressively eliminated from the Homing Pigeons strains, to be petted now by the much scarcer high-fly fanciers and no more by the numerous racing fanciers.
