2i8 COMMON PIGEON. Clafs IL 



parties, fuch as TumMers, Carriers, Jacohines^ Croppers, 

 Pointers, Runts, 1'urbits, Owls, Nuns, &c. * The 

 inoft celebrated of thefe is the Carrier, which from 

 the fuperior attachment that pigeon ihews to its na- 

 tive place, is employed in many countries as the moft 

 expeditious courier : the letters are tied under its 

 wing, it is let loofe, and in a very fhort fpace returns 

 to the home it was brought from, v;ith its advices ■\. 

 This pra6lice was much in vogue in the Eaft, and 

 at Sca'ttderoon, till of late years J, ufed on the arrival 

 of a fliip, to give to the merchants at Aleppo a more 

 expeditious notice than could be done by any other 

 means. In our own country, thefe aerial melTengers 

 have been employed for a very fmgular purpofe, be- 

 ing let loofe at Tyburn at the moment the fatal cart is 



* Vide Wil. orn. Moore's Columharium, and atreatife on domeflic 

 pigeons, publifhed in 1765. The lafl illuftrates thenames of the 

 birds, with feveral neat figures. 



f This cuftom was cblerved by that legendary traveller. Sir 

 Jchii Maunde-vile, knight, warrior and pilgrim ; who, with the true 

 fpirit of religious chivalry, voyaged into the Eaft, and penetrated as 

 far as the borders of China, during the reigns of Edward II. 

 and III. 



In that contrec (fays he) and other contrees bezonde, thei han a 

 cuftom, whan thei fchuUe ufen werre, and whan men holden fege 

 abouten cytee or caftelle, and thei with innen dur not fenden out 

 meflageis with letters, fro lord to lord, for to afke fokour, thei 

 maken here letters and bynden hem to the nekke of a Col<ver, and 

 ieten the Col-uer flee ; and the Cdueren ben fo taughte, that thei 

 fleen with tho letters to the verry place, that men welde fende hem 

 to. For the Colnjeres ben noryffcht in tho places, where thei ben 

 fent to; and thei fenden hem thus, for to beren here letters. And 

 the Ccl-jeres retournen azen, where as thei ben norifl'cht and fo thei 

 don comounly. The voiage Sc travaile of Sir J. Maunde^ile, knight, 

 ed. 1727. 



t Dr. Rufel informs us, that the pra£"tice is left off. Hi/l. 



Aleppo y 66, 



drawn 



