23G Col. R. Meiaertzhageii on the [Ibis^ 



just over 71 miles per hour. From the Scilly Islands to 

 Wiltshire (315 miles) a bird kept up a speed of 50^ 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 6.2 miles per hour in 

 very favourable weather. Finally^ a celebrated bird called 

 " Volonel " on two occasions maintained over 60 miles 

 per hour. 



Doubtless other figures have been published, but I have 

 been unable to trace them. From the data available it 

 appears tliat the normal velocity o£ 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 (.'ertainly no evidence which even suggests it. The cases 

 of Rooks in the above table were certainly those of migrating 

 birds, and indicate 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, 

 tlie (jrolden Plovers which were escaping pursuit, and the 

 Roubaix Swallow. It is remarkable that this bird was also 

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

 But Swallows are most deceptive birds as regards their 

 Hight. They are in locality neither strong nor rapid fliers, 

 and personally I do not attach too much reliance in the 

 data of the Roubaix Swallow. I do not believe any Swallow 

 is capable of anything approaching that speed unless assisted 

 by a tail wind of 30 or 40 miles an hour, which, as is well 

 known, is a hateful condition to a travelling bird. 



The case of the Mosul Swifts is interesting. The birds 

 were probably not on passage, but simply feeding. It is 

 known that Swifts travel great distances in search of food 

 and ascend great altitudes. In the Middle Atlas of Marocco, 

 in the Himalayas, in Crete and Palestine, 4000 or 5000 feet 



