DOVE-COTE PRODUCE. 171 



long famous for the pigeon fancy. In July, 1829, 

 another prize flight took place, with forty-two pigeons, 

 between Maestricht and London. The first bird lost 

 by a few minutes, though it travelled at the rate of 

 forty-five miles per hour. 



By what kind of natural qualification birds are 

 able to explore their way across such immense dis- 

 tances of land and sea, seems to mock all human 

 powers of inquiry: and granting the accuracy of 

 ancient relations in respect to the regular and suc- 

 cessful use of pigeons as messengers, it appears to be 

 one of those ancient arts said to be buried in the grave 

 of time, which has not hitherto encountered resur- 

 rection. The price of a pair of carriers was about 

 six guineas. 



The Carrier Pigeon fancy has never since been so 

 attractive and prevalent in this country, as it was 

 fifty or sixty years ago. It revived, but in a com- 

 paratively inconsiderable degree, a few years since, 

 but at present seems to have suffered a total eclipse. 

 Men's minds have assumed a direction entirely oppo- 

 site to that of sportive amusement ; political reform, 

 and redress of ancient grievances, are now the popu- 

 lar substitute for pigeon-flying : in course, both the 

 breed and price of carriers are proportionally reduced. 

 It is true, pigeon-shooting up the Thames, at Batter- 

 sea, has yet its annual term, but pigeon-shooters, and 

 pigeon-flyers, have generally been distinct classes. 



The following imperfect account of pigeons used 



and sold from a Berkshire dove-cote, in 1807, is 



extracted from the Survey : 147 used in the 



house, at 5s. per dozen, 31. Is. 3d. Sold 550 for 



i 2 



