ROCK DOVE. 2,65 



" In order to train a Pigeon for this purpose, take a 

 strong, fully-fledged, young Carrier, and convey it in a 

 basket or bag, about half a mile from home, and there turn 

 it loose ; having repeated this two or three times, then take 

 it two, four, eight, ten, or twelve miles, and so on, till they 

 will return from the most remote parts of the kingdom ; for 

 if they are not practised when young, the best of them will 

 fly but insecurely, and stand a great chance of being lost. 

 Be careful that the Pigeon intended to be flown is kept in 

 the dark, and without food, for about eight hours before it is 

 let loose, when it will immediately rise, and flying round, as 

 is their custom, will continue on the wing till it has reached 

 its home." 



The spiral flight, when first let loose, is a flight of observa- 

 tion, from which, as soon as the bird has reached suiScient 

 elevation, and gained the sight of a known object, he goes off 

 in a direct line to his point. Should fog or haze occur the 

 bird would probably be lost. 



Examples of power and speed are thus recorded : — In 

 July 1808, a wager was decided by setting oflT three Pigeons, 

 belonging to a young man named Wilson, in the Borough, 

 who undertook that they would fly thirty-five miles in one 

 hour. They were accordingly sent off the same evening at 

 five o'' clock, five miles beyond Tunbridge Wells, and arrived 

 at the residence of their owner in the short space of fifty- 

 three minutes, being seven minutes within the time allowed. 

 A gentleman having a wager depending on the event, sent a 

 Pigeon by the stage coach to his friend at Bury St. Edmonds, 

 with a note requesting that the bird, two days after his ar- 

 rival there, might be thrown up precisely when the town clock 

 struck nine in the morning, which was accordingly done, and 

 the Pigeon flew into the loft of the Bull Inn, Bishopsgate 

 Street, London, and was there shewn at half past eleven 

 o'clock the same morning, having flown seventy-two miles in 



