THE TRUMPETER. 201 



tliey intercepted "a letter tied to tlie legs of a dove (it 

 being the fashion of the country both to write and send 

 their letters under the wings of a fowl), wherein the Per- 

 sian Emperor promised help to the besieged." Numerous 

 similar instances might easily be recorded. 



How the carrier finds his way to his destination, is a 

 problem not easily solved. It can hardly be by sight, be- 

 cause birds conveyed from London to Epsom under cover 

 have returned to their homes in the metropolis with 

 unfailing accuracy. Probably it depends on that same 

 marvellous and mysterious instinct which regulates the 

 migrations of the swallow and other birds of passage. 

 Phrenologists have a theory that the certainty with which 

 they fly from point to point is due to an excitement of the 

 organ of "locality;" and electro-biologists chatter about 

 "magnetic influences." The fact is, the question at present 

 cannot be satisfactorily answered. 



Another variety of fancy pigeons is the Trumpeter ; a 

 hardy bird, generally pearl-eyed, black-mottled, and abun- 

 dantly feathered about the legs and feet. " The reason of 

 their name," says an old writer, "is from their imitating 

 the sound of a trumpet after playing. The more excited 

 they are, the more will they trumpet; therefore, if you 

 have a mind to be entertained with their melody, you must 

 give them plenty of hemp seed." But it is quite as pro- 

 bable that the trumpeter owes his name to his soldierly 

 aspect as to his supposed martial notes. 



Next we come to the Nuns, which somewhat resemble 

 the tumbler in shape, but are marked by a plumy tuft 

 rising from the back of the head. The breast, belly, back, 



