THE COLUJrBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 139 



powers of flight will do, but tliis bird, from 

 its swiftness on the wing, and its muscular 

 energy, is doubtless superior ; nevertheless, 

 old birds, if not kept in active training, are 

 heavy, and disincUned to very long flights, 

 "We once purchased a very young pair of black 

 carriers, and having kept them shut up for a 

 few weeks gave them their liberty ; after several 

 circles high in the air, they started off" in one 

 direction, straight as an arrow, till far out of 

 sight. We gave them up for lost, and having 

 paid a considerable suna for them, were not a 

 little annoyed. This happened about eleven, 

 A.M. At about four, p.m., while on the look 

 out we heard a whirring of wings, and imme- 

 diately the two birds settled on their dovecote, 

 and were eager for food and drink. Let it 

 be remembered that they had never been 

 previously at liberty, and yet after a voluntary 

 excursion of many miles, they returned with 

 unerring precision to their home ; this was 

 repeated so often, till they began to breed, 

 that it gave us no concern respecting their 

 safety, the more especially as they flew above 

 gun-shot reach. 



Is it by the eye that these birds travel 

 from long distances to their home? We 



