318 Directions foi- training Messenger Pigeons * 



one of them only at liberty, nothing will stop it on its \V3\% 

 neither corn nor trees-will (.leiain it tor a moment, while 

 the desire of returning to its companion will quicken it.^ 

 speed, idiv, If anv thing has occurred to detain it, either 

 from ks having visited a strange pigeon house or any other 

 cause, vou have onlv to turn out it? comrade, which will 

 soon bring it back. 3dly, Ii you have a male without a fe- 

 male, or rice versa, there is reason to fear that the bird 

 will on some occasion meet an agreeable conipatiion, and 

 of course neglect its master and its errand. For these rea- 

 sons 1 think it indispensable that messenger pigeons should 

 always be paired. 



" As soon as a pigeon has arrived with a letter at the 

 place of iis destination, it should be inimediately set at 

 liberty once more with the answer. If kcj)t long from its 

 mate, it would in all probability die of grief, or refuse to 

 imdertake a similar mission in future. 



" After the letter has been attached in tlie way to be 

 subsequently explained, the person charged with dispatch- 

 ino- the pigeon ought to carry it to a distance from the 

 houses into the fields, directing his face towards the place 

 to which the letter is to be sent. The fir:ft time a pigeon 1=; 

 employed on this service, it will be proper to follow it for 

 about a quarter of an hour, lest it should alight on some 

 tree, from which it must be driven. 



" Some persons are in the habit of attaching the letter to 

 the male pigeon onlv, and letting him loose along with a 

 female belonging to the place to which he is to be sent. 

 When both arrive at their place of destination, the female 

 must be confined and the male sent back to his own mate 

 with the answer. This precaution is had recourse to in 

 order to accustom the pigeons to go and come. 



*' The letter entrusted to the pigeon ought to be written 

 on very fine paper : all superfluous words must of course 

 be avoided ; the letter is generally placed flat under the 

 wing, but in mv opinion it would be more advantageous 

 to fasten it to one of the sides ; in the first place, because 

 the weight of the letter would be less felt; and secondly, 

 it would be less liable to fall by the flapping of the wings 

 when the animal flies. 



" By placing the Ititer under the wing it is preserved 

 from rain and other accidents. It may be fastened by a 

 small pin to one of the strongest feathers, the pin being 

 passed lhrt)ugh the letter and fastened at both ends by a 

 piece of thread crossed over it. The point of the pin should 



be 



