236 
Col. R. Meinertzhagen on the [Ibis, 
just over 71 miles per hour. From the Scilly Islands to 
Wiltshire (215 miles) a bird kept up a speed of 50^ miles 
per hour. In 170 miles a bird made 54 miles per hour, and 
in 104 miles it made 5 7\ miles per hour. In a race from 
Banff to Hampshire a bird maintained 62 miles per hour in 
very favourable weather. Finally, a celebrated bird called 
“Volonel” on two occasions maintained over 60 miles 
per hour. 
Doubtless other figures have been published, but I have 
been unable to trace them. From the data available it 
appears that the normal velocity of a Carrier Pigeon is 
from 30-36 miles per hour, but that when “ homing ” they 
can attain up to 60 miles per hour or over. Again arises 
the question as to whether migrants can accelerate their 
speed when actually migrating, in the same manner that a 
44 homing ” Pigeon can hurry on its way when 44 homing. 5 ' 
For reasons already given, I do not think they do, and there 
is certainly no evidence which even suggests it. The cases 
of Rooks in the above table were certainly those of migrating 
birds, and indicate no hurry. The Rossitten birds were all 
on passage, and show no excessive speed. In fact, the only 
excessive speeds we have in the table are those of the two 
Lammergeier which were taken under abnormal conditions, 
the Golden Plovers which were escaping pursuit, and the 
Roubaix Swallow. It is remarkable that this bird was also 
44 homing,” which may account for such an abnormal speed. 
But Swallows are most deceptive birds as regards their 
flight. They are in reality neither strong nor rapid fliers, 
and personally I do not attach too much reliance in the 
data of the Roubaix Swallow. I do not believe any Swallow 
is capable of anything approaching that speed unless assisted 
by a tail wind of 30 or 40 miles an hour, which, as is well 
known, is a hateful condition to a travelling bird. 
The case of the Mosul Swifts is interesting. The birds 
were probably not on passage, but simply feeding. It is 
known that Swifts travel great distances in search of food 
and ascend great altitudes. In the Middle Atlas of Marocco, 
in the Himalayas, in Crete and Palestine, 4000 or 5000 feet 
