CARRIER-PIGEONS 325 



height of the clouds, or to still greater altitudes, 

 where moreover its wings could not sustain it, it 

 would be unable to see its home. On the journey 

 to the point where it was released it has had no pass- 

 ing glimpse of any object, shut up as it has been in 

 the dark basket. The region it now traverses it sees 

 for the first time. Nothing in the surrounding land- 

 scape is familiar, and yet its flight evinces the assur- 

 ance that comes from having a definite goal in view. 

 With a speed of about twenty leagues an hour it 

 wings its way straight to the journey's end. If the 

 distance is too great to be covered without pause, 

 halts are made here and there for food and rest ; then 

 the journey is resumed, swift as an arrow's flight. 

 Finally, at the end of some hours or days, according 

 to the distance and the duration of the halts, the bird 

 reenters the pigeon-house with its beakful of food 

 for the waiting little ones. 



"In serious situations the carrier-pigeon is a val- 

 uable messenger. During the winter of that terrible 

 year, 1870-71, when the German hordes besieged 

 Paris, no communication was possible by ordinary 

 means between the invested city and the rest of 

 France, in arms to repel the odious invader. With 

 Paris rendered mute by its isolation, one might have 

 said that the heart of the country had ceased to beat. 

 For communication between those within and friends 

 without, recourse was had to balloons and pigeons. 



"Certain persons of dauntless courage left Paris 

 by balloon, choosing especially the night-time for 

 their departure in order to avoid encounter by day. 



