CHAP, i.] MESSENGER BIRDS. 19 



used to sell a single pair of Pigeons denariis quadrin- 

 gentis, for four hundred denarii."* Ainsworth sets down 

 the denarius at 7fd., so that the price of these birds 

 was 12Z. 18s. 4d., which is not so much out of the way, 

 if they were really good. 



^Elian, too, familiarly mentions the distinction be- 

 tween wild and tame Pigeons. "Doves in towns live 

 in society with man, and are very tame, and crowd 

 about one's feet; but in desert places they fly away, 

 and do not await the approach of men."f 



But it is as letter-carriers that Pigeons have obtained 

 the greatest celebrity among the ancients, and of their 

 services in this capacity we find very frequent and 

 interesting mention. The practice seems to have been 

 adopted in remote times, in modes, and upon occasions, 

 the exact counterpart of those which call forth the 

 powers of the bird at the present day. How likely is 

 it that the Patriarchs, remembering the tradition of the 

 ark, in their search for fresh pasture at a distance from 

 the main body of their tribe, may have taken with them 

 a few pigeons to be flown from time to time, and carry 

 home news of the proceedings of the exploring party. 

 During the last few years, the invention of the Electric 

 Telegraph has done more to bring Carrier Pigeons into 

 partial disuse than had been effected in the three 

 thousand years previous. Whether the bird so em- 

 ployed in early ages was identical with our Carrier does 

 not appear; but, until something to the contrary is 

 proved, we may be permitted to assume that it was the 

 same in every respect. 



Varro writes, " It may be observed, that the habit of 

 Pigeons is to return to their home, because many per- 



* Lib. x. 53. f Anecdotes of Animals, Book iii. 15. 



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