I04 Bird -Lore 



The 'law of reverse scent' will permit us to follow him on his 

 wayward course, and to re-establish his itinerary. When we sur- 

 prise the lost Pigeon's secret, we will verify that chance does not 

 play any part in the movements of the bird. 



In i8g6 we attended a ^ lac her' of Pigeons that came from the 

 Pigeon cotes of Mons and Charleroi. 



The two flocks of Pigeons having been set at liberty by chance 

 at the same time, from two different points of the freight station, 

 reunited in the air and formed at the time of their departure one 

 flock. The weather was extremely unfavorable, mist, rain and a con- 

 trary wind contributing to retard the home-coming of our winged 

 travelers. A first fault of instinct, eas}' to explain, was noticed on 

 their arrival ; two Pigeons from Mons are captured at Charleroi, and 

 three Pigeons from Charleroi are taken at Mons. In short, about 

 forty Pigeons did not return to their homes the same evening they 

 were set at liberty. 



The departure from Orleans had taken place with a perfect 

 gathering of the whole number of Pigeons ; the birds taking their 

 direction first showed the way to follow to their companions, 

 and some of these followed their guides blindly, to the extent of 

 entering with them their unfamiliar Pigeon cotes. 



However, at Orleans, an observer verified, between three o'clock 

 in the afternoon and seven o'clock in the morning, the arrival of 

 about thirty Pigeons, which perched themselves on the roof of the 

 station. Night came and we succeeded in capturing nine : five 

 from Charleroi, and four from Mons. We set them at liberty again. 

 This verification permits us to suppose that the thirtj^-two Pigeons 

 which came back to Orleans had all lost their way when they were 

 released in the morning. The morning of the next day, from five to 

 seven o'clock, they all disappeared, one after the other, in the direc- 

 tion of the North. About thirt}' of the belated ones returned the 

 same day to Charleroi and Mons. 



These comings and goings explain themselves quite naturally by 

 the 'law of the reverse scent.' Our winged voyagers forming one 

 flock at their departure from Orleans, were not long about dividing 

 themselves into many groups. We have pointed out that to come 

 back they had to struggle against the bad weather. Now, in this 

 regard, the Carrier Pigeons are not all armed with the same ability to 

 fight the elements. The small Pigeon, called the 'Liegeoise,' flies 

 with great velocity during normal weather. 



The very stuffy-looking Pigeons called ' Auversoise, ' endowed 

 with considerable muscular power, cannot rival the Liegeoise during 

 fine weather, but is very superior to him when it is necessary, for 



