PACE AND LAST 107 



figures may possibly be correct. It must be remem- 

 bered that the Swallow is better built for rapid flight 

 than the Pigeon. Of the velocity attained by the 

 Swift, that in his flight is very like the Swallow, but 

 certainly more than his match, many people have 

 arrived at an even higher estimate. 



Wind. 



But how are we to account for the Pigeon's com- 

 paratively very poor pace when tested in the shooting- 

 gallery ? I have shown that in most cases, when 

 they make records, Homing Pigeons are aided by a 

 tail-wind. Besides this it must be remembered that 

 at a considerable altitude the air is more rarefied, 

 and consequently offers less resistance. It is true 

 that it gives less support. But a bird of strong 

 flight, travelling fast, will get the support that he 

 requires, so that he will gain and not be hindered 

 by the rarefaction of the air. It hardly seems, 

 however, that this can be the sole explanation, since 

 Commander Lynes found that Quails maintained a, 

 velocity of 57 miles per hour when they had left the 

 higher air and, on nearing a resting-place on their 

 voyage, were flying low. Commander Lynes's 

 observations were made, I believe, on a number of 

 Quails under varying conditions, so that it seems 

 probable that we have here the bird's own pace, not 

 its pace plus that of the wind. 



The difficult complication introduced by the wind 

 has been ably dealt with by Dr. Thienemann at his 

 post of observation not far from Rossi tten, the well- 

 known ornithological observatory on the Baltic. 

 He has set up two lines of stakes half a kilometre 



