54 
quote a letter, in which Major Holland has kindly described it to 
me : “ In my early days,” he writes, “ I was accustomed to see 
carrier pigeons sent up from Goodwood to London, (about 50 
miles, 62 by road), six used to be sent in each flight ; they were 
started from the top of a lofty hill some 600 feet above the sea-level, 
and on a clear day, the Thames (^.e. the glitter of the water in the 
sun) could be made out from the hill with a glass. I have often 
timed them — they generally were from twelve to twenty minutes 
‘towering up,’ — i.e., wheeling round and up in a spiral directly 
over the trap ; they rose in this way till nearly out of sight, and 
then (apparently catching sight of their destination) they make 
straight for it with a swoop like a hawk ‘ stooping ’ on its prey : 
the news they conveyed was invariably received within the hour, 
so, deducting the time occupied in ‘ towering ’ and catching them 
on arrival, they were probably not more than thirty minutes, or 
perhaps twenty in traversing the 50 miles.” It will be seen that 
only an approximate idea of the bird’s speed can be obtained from 
the duration of these matches ; indeed, the actual speed seems to 
be one only of the many qualities necessary to make a first-rate 
carrier; it must mount rapidly and decidedly, commencing its 
“ bee-line ” homewards as soon as it has towered high enough, and 
alight freely upon its arrival at its home, as the time is reckoned 
from leaving the trap to the delivery of the despatch. Major 
Holland suggests that in order to ascertain really the rate at which 
the carrier flies, it should be observed at some match the second at 
which the first good “ clear headed, decided ” bird makes his un- 
niistakeable swoop right away, and have the time taken carefully 
when he first comes in sight at his destination, (not waiting for him 
to light, which he will not do till he has circled once or twice around, 
as though to check his speed,) and “ the intervening time will give 
the true speed of flight.” I hope this will be done by some person 
who has the opportunity. Amongst the recent flights, I have 
observed the following recorded in the newspapers ; — 
About 
Minutes 
From 
Miles. 
occui>ied. 
Chichester \ 
to London 
60 ... 
87 
60 ... 
78 
60 ... 
85 
Brighton 
: 
51 ... 
75 
Romford 
99 
12 ... 

