370 



ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1921. 



So much for observations on the flight of wild birds. I shall 

 now briefly record some of the more accurate observations on the 

 rate of flight of carrier pigeons. 



Tegetmeier declares (Field, 22, i, 87) that the average speed of 

 carrier pigeons is 36 miles per hour, whilst on two occasions a speed 

 of 55 miles per hour was maintained for four hours in succession. 



From experiments carried out in a covered gallery (Field, 1887, 

 p. 242) it was shown that a pigeon flew at 33.8 miles per hour, whilst 

 in the open another flew at 27.9 miles per hour. 



In the Homing Fancier's Annual of 1892 it was recorded that in 

 covering 82 miles in good weather a bird maintained just over 71 

 miles per hour. From the Scilly Islands to Wiltshire (215 miles) 

 a bird kept up a speed of 5(H miles per hour. In 170 miles a bird 

 made 54 miles per hour, and in 104 miles it made 57^ miles per hour. 

 In a race from Banff to Hampshire a bird maintained G2 miles per 

 hour in very favorable weather. Finally, a celebrated bird called 

 * Volonel " on two occasions maintained 0A T er 60 miles per hour. 



Doubtless other figures have been published, but I have been un- 

 able to trace them. From the data available it appears that the 

 normal velocity of a carrier pigeon is from 30-36 miles per hour, 

 but that when "homing" they can attain up to 60 miles per hour 

 or over. Again arises the question as to whether migrants can 

 accelerate their speed when actually migrating, in the same manner 

 that a "homing" pigeon can hurry on its way when "homing." 

 For reasons already given, I do not think they do, and there is 

 certainly no evidence which even suggests it. The cases of rooks 

 in the above table were certainly those of migrating birds, and in- 

 dicate no hurry. The Rossitten birds were all on passage, and show 

 no excessive speed. In fact, the only excessive speeds we have in 

 the table are those of the two Lammergeier which were taken under 

 abnormal conditions, the golden plovers which were escaping pur- 

 suit, and the Roubaix swallow. It is remarkable that this bird was 

 also "homing." which may account for such an abnormal speed. 



