132 EXPERIMENT. [CHAP. iv. 



the work of incubation, it was considered the best time 

 to make the experiment, as the male would then have 

 the strongest inducement to return to his mate. Ac- 

 cordingly he was sent, along with his two young ones, 

 to a friend's near Kelso. That place was well adapted 

 by its situation for the object in view ; for, as the road 

 lies over the high ridge of the Lammermoor Hills, it 

 was necessary for the bird to fly to a great distance in 

 the proper direction, before he could see any part of 

 the country of which he was likely to have acquired a 

 knowledge, while taking pleasure excursions through 

 the air in clear weather from his own home a pas- 

 time much indulged in, when he was first allowed to 

 fly from the Pigeon-house, and which in all probability 

 was prompted by a strong desire to know the appear- 

 ance of the land. To avoid all danger from sports- 

 men, the bird was let off from my friend's house on 

 the Sunday morning ; and after rising to a considerable 

 height, he took his course in a fair direction towards 

 home. He was not seen for two days, but, being unable 

 to find his way home, he returned to the place where 

 he had last seen his young, and which he had only 

 time to observe as he towered in the air before he 

 took his direct line of flight. On the top of this house 

 he lived for some weeks, and until a Pigeon-house was 

 made in the roof, and his young allowed to go out 

 after being confined a proper time to the house. 

 This, I think, when joined with other observations on 

 the subject, clearly proves that the Carrier is guided 

 in his journey solely by memory, and a knowledge of 

 the country he has to traverse. These birds, when 

 employed to carry intelligence from one part to another, 

 are trained by being taken, first, say five miles from 



