CHAI>. iv.] EXPERIMENT WITH CARRIERS. 131 



man with whom I was well acquainted, who had the 

 organ of Locality largely developed, made his way 

 with ease from a point in Argyleshire to one in In- 

 verness-shire with no other guides than a pocket com- 

 pass and an indifferent map a feat which will be 

 appreciated by those who have ever had a peep at the 

 mountains of Glencoe, Glencroe, and the Devil's Stair- 

 case, which he had to cross. 



We give a quotation respecting Carrier Pigeons from 

 the " Phrenological Journal,"* because it is much to 

 the purpose, as well as because that work is not likely 

 to fall in the way of the generality of readers. " Dr, 

 Gall considers this surprising talent (of birds and ani- 

 mals returning to their homes) to have some connexion 

 with the organ of Locality. I do not pretend to offer 

 any hypothesis in relation to this matter, but shall state 

 merely a few doubts and suggestions ; and having some 

 time ago made an experiment, with the view of ascer- 

 taining whether Carrier Pigeons can instinctively return 

 to their homes from a distance, or whether, to make 

 them useful as messengers, it be necessary to teach 

 them the road, I think it may be interesting to you to 

 learn the result. 



" A pair of very fine Carriers having been sent me by 

 a friend, I kept them for some time in the house, and, 

 I think, for about three weeks in the Pigeon-house, in 

 order to give them full time to forget tneir former 

 place of residence. When permitted to fly abroad, 

 they returned to their new habitation, where they soon 

 had young ; and when these were able to provide for 

 themselves, and the female was a second time busied in 



* Vol. viii. p. 71. 



