82 LIFE OF TEGETMEIER 



stormy sea between the island and Auckland, 

 and a daily postal service was inaugurated 

 and successfully carried on. Each bird carried 

 four " pigeongrams " or messages. These were 

 written or typed on pieces of tissue paper, quarto 

 size, and bearing stamps of the value of Is. or 

 6d. — the higher charge being for messages to 

 Great Barrier Island, which lies low in the water, 

 is often enveloped in haze, and therefore more 

 difficult for the birds to see than the more con- 

 spicuous mainland. The letters were folded up 

 tightly, sealed and covered with a waterproof 

 legging and fastened to the bird's leg with a tiny 

 india-rubber ring. The mails were made up and 

 despatched as required daily between 9 a.m. 

 and noon from Auckland, and between 9 a.m. 

 and 3 p.m. from the island; the birds were 

 liberated earlier from the mainland on account 

 of the difficulty referred to. For several years 

 the messages were sent unstamped — the system 

 was, of course, a private venture ; but after a 

 while it was deemed advisable to have stamps 

 printed, sold and used. The first issue was a 

 rather rough one, made up with printer's rule, 

 type, and bits of ornament, including a flying 

 bird with an enormous letter in its beak. In 

 addition to the designation of place and value, 

 the stamp bore the words " Special Post." On 

 a second and more important-looking edition 

 being issued, the postal authorities objected to 



