Chapter XXVIII. 



X HOMING PIGEONS. X 



HE well-known love of pigeons generally for 

 their homes has been taken advantage of, 

 from the earliest ages, by making use of them 

 as messengers. The flying fancier can point 

 to Anacreon's "Ode to the Carrier Pigeon," 



written twenty-five centuries ago, as a proof of the existence 



of his fancy in early times: 



" Tell me why, my sweetest dove, 

 Thus your humid pinions move ? " 



" Curious stranger ! I belong 

 To the bard of Teian song ; 

 With his mandate now I fly 

 To the nymph of azure eye." 



Throughout history there are records of the use of Carrier 

 Pigeons as messengers to and from beleaguered cities : from 

 the amphitheatre, to tell the results of the sports or combats ; 

 and from caravans, to announce their setting out or arrival 

 Many passages from mediaeval writers have recently been 

 brought to light regarding their employment ; and if, in modern 



