4158 The Zoologist — September, 1874. 



distances, the homing and flying powers of the pigeons are developed to a 

 large degree, whilst the birds which cannot do the distance are necessarily 

 lost and eliminated. The surviving or winning voyageurs become thus 

 educated to the highest standard of perfection, and this system being con- 

 tinued through many generations (the flying distances increasing every year) 

 a race of pigeons have been produced with powers which a few years ago 

 would have been deemed impossible. Press carrier pigeons, though as a 

 rule only used for short distances, in competition with the electric telegraph, 

 can be specially trained to distances of five hundred miles, and frequently 

 fly to England from Dublin, Brussels, Paris, Lisbon, and even Rome. The 

 utilization of the instincts of birds for press purposes is being carried even 

 further than this. An ocean homing bird, of great docility, intelligence 

 and spirit, has been found in Iceland, which flies at a meteor-like speed of 

 one hundred and fifty miles an hour, and is able to find its home, over sea 

 and land, from any part of the habitable world. A pair of these birds, a few 

 days ago, brought despatches from Paris to a lonely spot, congenial to their 

 nature, in a wild and rocky part of Kent, within ten miles of London, in an 

 hour and a quarter. Press carrier pigeons took the despatches on to the 

 city, the whole distance from Paris to London — by actual parcel mode of 

 conveyance — being done within one hour and a half. If the experiments at 

 present being made in training and educating them continue successful, it 

 is hoped by next summer to establish a daily miniature ocean mail between 

 America and Europe, the whole distance to be traversed between sunrise in 

 one hemisphere and sunset in the other. — Editor of ' Land and Water.' 



Kcccnt Occurrence of Apterjx Ilaastii of Potts. — I have much pleasure 

 in communicating the fact of the occurrence of this rare bird, after a very 

 long interval. Five very fine specimens, old and young, have been lately 

 obtained from the West Coast : efforts were made to secure these much- 

 prized specimens for the Canterbury Museum, but although a considerable 

 sum was ofi"ered it was declined by the owner of the skins. Till the present 

 time the only known eKamples were the two well-known specimens in the 

 Canterbury Museum. — Thomas Henry Potts; Ohinitahi, June 3, 1874. 



Glossy Ibis and Roller. — Fifteen years ago a fine ibis was shot near 

 Lytham by the late Mr. Eden's keeper: it was sent to Sharpies, of this town, 

 to stuff; the man called it a " black curlew " ; I saw it in the flesh : it was 

 noted in the Preston papers at the time ; from then to Mr. Eden's death 

 I kept a look out for it, when I purchased it at the sale, a month ago. 

 I have two fine rollers, one stuffed by Watson, of Carlisle, shot near that 

 city about five years ago ; this also was noted in the newspapers at the 

 time : the other specimen I purchased from the late Mr. T. H. Allis, of 

 York ; he got it in Yorkshire during his business rounds : this specimen, 

 a hoopoe and a golden oriole I got from him a few months before his death. — 

 J. B. Hodgklnson; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, August 10, 1874. 



