POULTRY TRIBE. 245 



an Arctic Journal," gives the details of the despatch 

 of these birds from Assistance Harbour. The 

 opinion prevalent in the squadron was that the 

 poor little creatures would be frozen to death, as 

 the wind was blowing fresh from the north-west 

 and the temperature below zero. The two birds 

 duly freighted with intelligence were put in a 

 basket which was attached to a balloon in such a 

 manner that after the combustion of a certain 

 quantity of match the pigeons would be launched 

 into the air to commence their flight. In about a 

 hundred and fifty hours one of the two, as verified 

 by the lady, reached its home. This marvellous 

 flight of three thousand miles is the longest on 

 record. Of course it is unknown how far the bird 

 was carried by the balloon, and when or where 

 liberated; which would depend on the strength 

 and direction of the gale by which the machine 

 was carried along. 



As my readers may probably like to have the 

 " latest news" of the pigeon world, I will give 

 them the history of a " pigeon express " that 

 carried the news of the capture of Sebastopol to 

 Colombo the capital of Ceylon. 



This town is situated seventy-two miles from 

 the port of Galles, at which the steamers touch. 

 About five years ago the idea was originated of 

 employing carrier pigeons to bear despatches from 



