Minenahgy .-^Trahilng Messenger Pigeons. 317 



Mineralogy of the Brazils. — By letters lately re- 

 ceived from Mr. Mawe, from Rio de Janiero, dated the 

 15th of August, we are informed that he is honoured with 

 the prince- regent's permission to travel and make observa- 

 tions in the mining district of the Brazils : he has f/ready 

 passed some months in the government ef St, Pauls, where 

 he discovered a variety of fine clays -for the purposes of 

 porcelain, &c., and is latefy returned from the mines of 

 Canto Gallo. The gold mine of Santo Rita is between two 

 rocks of sparry limestone, a substance not before known to 

 exist in that country, nor would they believe it until they 

 saw it burnt into lime. These districts, until now unex- 

 amined by any mineralogist, (in a country so rich in pre- 

 cious productions,) cannot fail to be highly intereslintr to 

 the lovers of natural history. 



The following directions for training messenger pio-eons 

 are extracted from au Arabic work printed at the imperial 

 press at Paris, under the title of " The Messenger Pio-eoii 

 more rapid than Lightning, and swifter than the Clouds - 

 by Michael Sabbagh." 



" As soon as the young pigeons are fledged, they must 

 be taught to feed from a person's hand, and to drink from 

 the same person's mouth. For ihis purpose take up the 

 young pigeon, and with your hand gently throw back its 

 head, open the bill, and put two or three grainsof corn into 

 its mouth. When you think it has eaten enouoh, take 

 some water into your mouth and make it drink hy intro- 

 ducing Its bill : afterwards place it on the floor and plav 

 with it, teaching it to follow you. This exercise oufht to 

 be repeated twice or thrice a day, with the view of accus- 

 toming the animal to be handled. When the pio-eon is 

 strong enough to fly a little, if it be a male, you'should 

 place It beside a female which has received the same trainin<r. 

 " As soon as they can fly will, they mav be put into'^a 

 cage and sent to tlie place to which it is intended thev 

 should afterwanls carry messages. The cajjc ou-dit to be 

 uncovered, that they may sec the road. As soon as thev 

 have arrived, the owner of the place to which they are sent 

 will keep then) shut up for a month at least, takino- care to 

 play with them and handle them every dav. It will be 

 proper to continue this treatment for two montlis, when 

 the birds will have been accustomed to this second place of 

 rtsidcnye : one at a time may then be let loose, and not 

 both togetlier, for llic loliowing reasons ; — 1st, Ifyousel 

 ' one 



