vii FLIGHT 271 



The fastest travelled at the rate of 279 miles per hour. 

 Pheasants were experimented on in the same way in the 

 range and in the open : in the former case the greatest 

 velocity was 33-8, in the latter 361 miles per hour. 1 



These experiments, made in a gallery where the air 

 was perfectly still, or in the open, when there was little 

 or no wind, lead us to conclusions very different from 

 those which we draw from the records of the races of 

 Homing Pigeons. All the best of these records are, 

 as I have said, obtained on very favourable days, when 

 there is a tail-wind blowing, the velocity of which has 

 to be added to that due to the bird's own exertions. 

 But the difference seems to be too great to be ac- 

 counted for in this way, even if we make no allowance 

 for the fact that the Pigeon expends time and strength 

 in circling to a height before starting for home, and 

 for the probability that his course is not an absolute 

 bee-line. It is possible that it is easier to attain great 

 pace in rarefied air at a great height ; at an altitude 

 of 6,000 feet, the density of the air, as may be seen by 

 referring to a mountaineer's aneroid barometer, is only 

 four fifths of what it is at the sea-level. It is true that 

 such air will afford the bird less support, and that, 

 therefore, the minimum pace that is necessary, if he 

 is to maintain his level when gliding, is greater than 

 in the denser air near the earth. But supposing that 

 he can support himself, he will advance with greater 

 rapidity since he will meet with less resistance. We 



1 See Charles Lancaster's Illustrated Treatise on the Art of 

 Shooting, p. 175. Sir R. Payne-Gallwey {Letters to Young 

 Shooters, p. 152) mentions similar experiments made by himself 

 by aid of stop watches. 



