THE PIGEON. 301 



geon; and its amiable inofFensiv^ness and inviolable 

 fidelity to its mate, has furnished sentimental writers 

 with the most beautiful allusions. 



One of the most remarkable traits in the history of 

 this kind of birds, is the custom which has sometimes 

 prevailed, of employing the pigeon in c?rrying letters 

 from place to place in time of war, and in case of 

 sieges, when all means of communication were inter- 

 cepted by the enemy. This was performed by a 

 timely interchange of the birds, which, being let fly, , 

 immediately returned to their former abode. You 

 will find in history several instances of this communi- 

 cation by carrier pigeons, which, however, are now 

 rendered useless through the general adoption of fire 

 arms. They are, however, the most expeditions car- 

 riers in the world, and have been known to perform a 

 journey of forty miles in an hour and a half. They 

 are still used in the east; and The-venot says, that 

 they commonly travel from Aleppo to Alexandria in 

 Syria, in six hours, which is a distance of eighty-eight 

 miles. The letters are generally fastened under their 

 wings. 



In order to ascertain with some degree of accuracy, 

 the speed of these curious birds, a gentleman, some 

 years ago, sent a carrier pigeon from London to a 

 friend at Bury St. Edmund's, and along with it a let- 

 ter, requesting that the pigeon, two days after its ar- 

 rival, might be thrown up precisely at nine o'clock in 

 the morning. This was attended to; and the pigeon 

 returned to the Bull Inn, Bishopsgate-street, about half 

 past eleven o'clock of the same morning; having tra- 

 velled seventy-two miles in two hours and a half. 



So great is the fecundity of this bird in its domestic 

 -state, that from a single pair, near fifteen thousand 

 Ttiay be produced in the space of four years; a cir- 

 cumstance which, joined to the excellency of its flesh, 

 .shews its importance to man, and how well it repays 

 his care and attention. 



I am, most respectfully, dear Sir, 



Yours, &c. 



