IX. 



HOW ANIMALS GET HOME. 



ONE of the most striking powers possessed by animals is 

 that of finding their way home from a great distance, and 

 over a road with which they are supposed to be unacquaint- 

 ed. It has long been a question whether we are to attrib- 

 ute these remarkable performances to a purely intuitive 

 perception by the animal of the direction and the practica- 

 ble route to his home, or whether they are the results of a 

 conscious study of the situation, and a definite carrying out 

 of well-judged plans. 



Probably the most prominent example of this wonderful 

 power is the case of homing pigeons. These pigeons are 

 very strong of wing, and their intelligence is cultivated to 

 a high degree ; for their peculiar " gift " has been made use 

 of .since " time whereof the memory of man runneth not 

 to the contrary." The principle of heredity, therefore, now 

 acts with much force; nevertheless, each young bird must 

 be subjected to severe training in order to fit it for those 



