102 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



then began the selection which has continued until 

 to-day. As early as the beginning of the nine- 

 teenth century we find a well-organized pigeon 

 postal service established by the Dutch in Java 

 and Sumatra. Immediately after that period and 

 continuing until the advent of the telegraph killed 

 it, the pigeon post found general favor throughout 

 Europe. 



In those days as now, the desired message was 

 written on a thin sheet of paper, which was then 

 rolled up and thrust into an empty quill. This in 

 turn was secured to a central tail-feather of the 

 pigeon, and the bird was permitted to proceed on 

 its way. The method now in vogue varies con- 

 siderably from this. The message is placed in 

 a metal cylinder which is fastened to the leg of 

 the bird by two flexible aluminum bands. The cyl- 

 inder is of aluminum, about one and a quarter 

 inches long and three eighths of an inch in dia- 

 meter. Paper of great lightness is employed, so 

 that messages of considerable length may be sent. 



The telegram proved a damper to the pigeon 

 post, and the birds fell into disfavor as message 

 carriers. Then came the Franco-Prussian War 

 and the siege of Paris. That city was for several 

 months cut off from ordinary means of communica- 

 tion with the outside world. It was invested by 

 a wall of glittering German steel. Well nigh 

 every attempt to send out a message was frus- 

 trated by the capture of the courier. There re- 



