HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
39 
Arrived at the cote, we found, £>i course, 
that our pigeons had "checked in" ldhg before, 
and soon the men out with them were also back 
and assembled to hear a lecture on the care of the 
birds. After this they would have signal-work — 
wigwag, semaphore, telegraph-practice — which 
would occupy them until noon. From one o'clock 
until four, 30 other practical instructions concern- 
ing the birds would be given, their handling, and 
then further drill with the same. There follows 
then an hour of recreation for the men and at 5.30 
they wash up and ready for supper. At six the 
bugle sounds their retreat and their working-day 
is done. 
But those all-important messages — just how 
are they borne? 
The message, the sergeant showed, is written 
on thin rice paper cut to four by five inches. Or- 
dinary ink or indelible pencil may be used for 
writing the lines. The bit of paper is then rolled 
and placed in a small aluminium capsule, made 
for this especial purpose, which is attached to the 
leg of the bird by a band. 
All messages are in cipher. Sometimes, if 
extra secrecy is desired, two birds are used; each 
carrying one half the message, or each carrying 
alternate words. Where birds travel singly, the 
next bird carries a duplicate copy of the message. 
All messages are numbered and, for purpose of 
study, a time-record is also kept on each. These 
precautions, though, are simply to make assurance 
doubly sure, for the birds very seldom fail. 
The bird rises so high and blends so com- 
pletely with the sky, or clouds, that it is diffi- 
cult to detect, and even more so to bring down 
with a shot. Nor are the birds frightened from 
their course by fire. It is calculated, therefore, 
that at least 97% of the birds may be counted 
on to come to cote safely, and on time. As pre- 
caution against the decoying of the pigeons by a 
foe, in the last weeks of their training, they are 
led to fear strangers round and taught not to sub- 
mit to being touched by the human hand. 
An electrical device flashes a light the moment 
a bird comes in. Someone is always to hand to 
wait this warning flash and immediately takes the 
message from the bird. The capsule is easily re- 
moved, being- attached by a band on the leg. 
The message is then sent to headquarters at once, 
by fleet-messenger or motor-cycle; or it may be 
transmitted by signal if there is danger ofi it not 
getting through. 
Whatsoever, when all else fails, there's the 
pigeon ! 
If the wireless be out of commission, if the 
telephone line is cut, if fogs hide the signal flags, 
or dispatch riders dare not run, Uncle Sam can 
rely on these "winged Paul Reveres," — the mes- 
senger-boys of the air ! 
AMATEURS AND SHOWMENS' 
ENTERPRISES. 
By John D. Ha.mly.n. 
Periodically the world is promised a syndicate 
to capture the Wild Beast Trade. 
The latest is from "The World's Pair" : — 
"Mr. E. H. Bostock announces the sale 
of the hippopotamus, which is one of the fea- 
tures in the Glasgow Zoo. Purchased in 
Hamburg just before the war, "Hippo," has 
twice outgrown waggons specially built for 
him, and he keeps on growing. Owing to 
war exigencies it is impossible to procure an. 
other wagon. Therefore the huge animal will 
go to augment the famous collection at Belle 
Yue Gardens, Manchester. This hippopota- 
mus is the first ever exhibited in Scotland, 
and is one of the finest specimens ever seep 
in Britain. All zoological collections are 
suffering from the prohibition of imports. 
Recognising that there will be demands for 
stock after the war, Mr. Bostock has started 
a training zoo in Singapore, under the man- 
agement of one of his sons (his three other 
sons are in the Army). In addition, Mr. 
Bostock is in touch with all the principal 
depots in Africa, so that this business will 
never again pass into the hands of the Ger- 
mans," 
It is only a few weeks ago that Mr. Bostock 
wrote to me that his numerous enterprises required 
all his attention, and he had no time to entertain 
others. Sometime in 1914 an amateur syndicate 
expressed their intention of capturing the trade. 
Their one ambition was to abolish the regular 
dealer and to become dealers themselves. The 
capital mentioned was £5,000. Truly wonderful ! 
Not quite enough to finance one large Indian con- 
signment. 
Now the celebrated showman comes along. 
He has big ideas. If I had the amount of money 
his so-called training zoo at Singapore will have 
cost him, w r ith the animals delivered in London or 
New York, it would be quite a respectable sum. 
To be a dealer in wild animals requires a won- 
derful knowledge of the countries they inhabit, 
consumate skill in arranging transportation, with 
an utter disregard of the epenses attached there- 
to. 
I commenced life forty-five years ago as a 
shipping clerk in Leadenhall Street, and the six 
years spent in that office laid the foundation of 
mv commercial life. 
