THE PIGEONS. 
29 
appears, and no one could tell where it had 
been. 
Perhaps this curious ball may be considered 
very handsome among the pigeon tribe, and 
render them more attractive in each other's 
eyes. 
The pigeon is a very timid bird, and loves 
its home so well that, if taken away, it will fly 
many hundred miles to get back to it. 
Man has taken advantage of this circum- 
stance to employ it as a messenger ; for he 
knows that if it is going back to its native 
place, no distance, and no difficulties, will 
stand in its way. He knows too, it will fly 
as direct as if it were guided by the compass ; 
and in days of old, when there were neither 
railways nor telegrams, the pigeon was the 
swiftest messenger that could be found. 
One of the Turkish sultans devised a regular 
system of carrying news by means of a number 
of pigeons, trained for the purpose. He built 
a great many high towers, about thirty miles 
apart, and at each tower pigeons were kept. 
They used to fly from one tower to another, 
and sentinels were on the watch to receive 
them. The letter was written on a very thin 
