68 Poachers and Poaching. 



long sustained powers of flight which show 

 what the pigeon is capable of doing. Thirty- 

 three birds were recently brought from Terrnonde, 

 in Belgium, and were liberated at Sunderland at 

 5 a.m. A telegram received at the latter place 

 stated that sixteen of the birds reached home at 

 1.35 the same afternoon, having accomplished 

 the distance of four hundred and eighty miles in 

 about eight and a half hours, or about fifty-six 

 miles an hour. A week previous the same birds 

 had flown from London to Brussels. 



It has frequently been suggested that homing 

 pigeons should be used to carry telegraphic 

 messages between country houses and post offices. 

 In many cases pigeons have been used as tele- 

 graphic messengers with the most successful 

 results. Sending into town, by the people of 

 the Hall is a frequent occurrence, and whenever 

 a messenger had occasion to go, some pigeons, 

 bred at the Hall are sent in a hamper by the 

 dog-cart or what-not. These are taken posses- 

 sion of by a local tradesman living near the post 

 office, who also receives the telegrams. The lat- 

 ter are rolled up and tied either round the bird's 

 leg, or so that it lies across the upper part of its 

 breast. The pigeon is then liberated, and in 

 about ten minutes from the time of despatch the 

 telegram is delivered at the Hall, five miles 

 distant. The reverse process is repeated with 

 the tradesman's pigeons kept at the Hall if a reply 



