^'u'^^'V,

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

|30 *^"

1.8

U i 1.6

fV-i^.:^

<^'
^

'^ %*'-»*

Photographic

Sciences
Ccjrporation

^>^

23 WIST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0

(716)172-4503

L«

.^^^

CiHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHIVI/ICIVIH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquas

Tl
to

Tha Inttituta has attamptad to obtain tha bast
original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this
copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua,
which may altar any of tha imagas in tha
reproduction, or which may significantly change
tha usual method of filming, are checked below.

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

r~l Covers damaged/

Couverture endommagia

□ Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaur^e et/ou pelliculAe

□ Cover title missing/
Le titre da couverture manque

I I Coloured maps/

Cartes giographiques en couleur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

□ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
RellA avac d'autres documents

[T^ Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion

along interior margin/

La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la

distortion le long de la marge intirieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within tha text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certainas pages blanches ajout6es
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsqua ceia Atait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas Ati film^es.

Additional comments:/
Commentairas supplAmantairas;

L'institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a At* possible de se procurer. Les details
da cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage
sont indiquAs ci-dessous.

r~| Coloured pages/

Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endomn^ag^as

Pages restored and/o(

Pages restaur^as et/ou peiliculdes

Pages discoloured, stainbd or foxe(
Pages ddcoiordes. tachet^es ou piqu^es

Pages detached/
Pages ddtachdes

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of prir

Quality indgale de I'impression

Includes supplementary materii
Comprend du materiel suppi^mentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Mition disponible

|~~| Pages damaged/

I I Pages restored and/or laminated/

r^ Pages discoloured, stainbd or foxed/

r~n Pages detached/

I I Showthrough/

I I Quality of print varies/

I I Includes supplementary material/

I I Only edition available/

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totuiement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure,
etc., ont iti film^es d nouveau de fapon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

P<
o\
fil

O
b(
ti
si
o\
fi
si
oi

T
si
T
^^

ei
b
ri
ri
n

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est film* au taux da reduction indiquA ci-dessous.

10X 14X 18X 22X

2SX

30X

12X

16X

20X

24X

28X

32X

Th« copy filmed here hes been reproduced thenke
to the generosity of:

Metropolitan Toronto Library
History Department

L'exempleire filmA fut reproduit grice h le
gAnArositA de:

Metropolitan Toronto Library
History Department

The imeges eppesring here ere the best quslity
possible considering the condition end legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol -^-(meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginnin In the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

Les imeges suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec ie
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de le nettetA de Texempleire filmt, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat do
filmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimAe sont filmAs en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par ia
dernlAre pege qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la
premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la derniire page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la
derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbols V signifie "FIN ".

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre
filmts A des taux de rMuction diff6rents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre
reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est film* A partir
de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche h droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant ie nombre
d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mAthode.

. . { ,^ J..i..^

■f^w^ tmm ' ^ w " '

AI ilB Id MI

v!/^'.;

•H»,(,».Jlki»

mici

< .

.''■■■ - « ' \ ' 'Illy

MAJOR-GENEKAL CAMERON, CM. an-

Comnur/niiii/i Iioyn/ Mi/it, i/y Cii/,-:,',-, J\'//ii;\/'i!i ••', lIl.tll'.H'

|'im< 111-.
'.l.llcd
■'//(// I .1

I! '

• i^^ «'■ f

: .; •■•.';.. ■ , w hill

Reprinted from the University Quarterly Revie\ tli. n

<\v:^-

. i

:-\

TORONTO:
C. BLACKETT ROBINSON

»l;^(i 111
;.iiiic
i;.;i'( iii^

w .1- .1

A lite-,

' ..II

^•C

;Nf

t^a<jM»wi.tf>:»Mi^ii^,- ^ .^^,

^■Sv

"COmnia eujpcvat "Oirtue."

(■

^->

^^^^^^

Herbert Fairbairn Gardiner,

Hamilton, Ontario.

HESSEN6ER PIGEONS: A NATIONAL QUESTION.

UNTIL fifty-three years ago there was no more rapid means
of conveying intelligence than was supplied by pigeons.
It is only within the last half century that electricity and
steam have come into competition with the messenger pigeon;
and even in the present day there are innumerable conditions
under which the bird is ?>\\\\ facile princeps.

Prior to the development of railways and telegraphs, travel-
ling was so slow and transportation had so many difficulties
with which to contend that the training of pigeons could only
be carried out by a very few individuals for short distances ;
and the places at which they were employed were so remote
from one another as, with few exceptions, to preclude arrange-
ment for their reciprocal connection by pigeon post.

What is known of the employment of messenger pigeons
prior to the early years of the present century may be related
in the words of a Reviewer in the Royal Engineer fcumal of
June, 1885.

*• The employment of carrier pigeons for transmitting in-
telligence was known to the ancients ; early navigators, when
they nearcd their native shores, used pigeons to advise their
friends of their coming home. In Greece the carrier pigeon
was the messenger employed during the Olympian games.
When Greece became a Roman Province, carrier pigeons
served to convey to the Romans news of the gladitprial fights
and of races. In Egypt, of old, the carrier pigeon post was a
public institution. The African traveller, De Volney, writes
on this subject : ' The state columbaries were distributed all
over the country in towers specially built, and it was owing to
constant communication between the several stations that
public order and safety could be preserved in the extensive

'ro- Egyptian Empire.'

"John Moore asserts that these oriental carrier pigeons
were brought by Dut<?h mariners to Europe. They were called
Bagadettes after ]3agdad, and it is probable that the Belgian
carrier of the present day is a descendant of the oriental bird.
It is quite surprising into what a variety of services the carrier
pigeon has since then been pressed. Instances of its successful
employment in the interests of speculation, politics, the saving
of life, public safety and war are numerous.

"In 1770, an Italian is said to have had recourse to having
the winning numbers in lotteries sent him by carrier pigeon.s.
It is a well known fact in this country (England) that the
London house of Rothschild used carrier pigeons in 1 8 1 5 to
obtain information of the course of events on the continent,
and thus was able to receive the news of the defeat of Napoleon
at Waterloo three days before the English Government did,
and to buy up largely English Government stock at its then
depressed price, and sell at an enormous profit after the rise
which took place when the news became generally known,
thereby realizing an immense fortune. ... It appears
from the wrii'ngs of Pliny that the Roman armies in all
probability made use of carrier pigeons, otherwise the great
rapidity cannot be explained with which Julius Caesar received
information of risings in Gallia, enabling him to descend the
Alps with his legions at the least sign of disturbances. It is
also, stated that during the siege of Candia by the Venetian
admiral Dandolo, at the beginning of the 13th century, the
latter received important intelligence from the island (Crete)
by carrier pigeons, which facilitated its conquest. The siege
of Harlem by Frederick Toledo (1572), the siege of Leyden
by the Spaniards (1575), the bombardment of Antwerp (1832),
supplies also examples of the successful employment of the
carrier pigeon post."

The foregoing sketch of pigeon service carries its history
down to times when railways and telegraphs originated and
began spreading into the wonderful net work they now present
on maps of the civilized world. For a time the employment

of pigeons appeared to be doomed to extinction. Love of
sport, however, came to the rescue, and with the assistance of
railway and telegraph the systematic rearing and training ol
birds were carried on to an extent that had hitherto not been
dreamt of, until in 1870, at the siege of Paris, a most powerful p
impetus was imparted to the movement, and to-day the area e
of the civilized world over which organized pigeon post is
established, the vast flocks of birds employed, and the vital
importance of the reliance placed upon them are nothing short
of marvellous.

But, in Canada, where is the organization ? Where are the
birds ? How many of its people have even heard of them ?

It is the aim of this article to awaken interest in its subject,
to make known what the power of the messenger pigeon is,
to show what services the bird may render, and to demonstrate
that to encourage, to support and to actively co-operate in
developing pigeon posts throughout the Dominion are, for
government and people, national duties. ""

Amongst the names of the numerous varieties of pigeons,
, t/ie Carrier is perhaps most familiar to the public ear. This
name is popularly misapplied to birds used to convey
messages. The Carrier, however, is not suited to this purpose.
It is essentially a fancier's show-bird — tall, erect and bold in
carriage. It is specially marked by what the uninitiated
might regard as warty excrescences around the eyes and above
and below the beak. An excessive and regular development
of these apparently abnormal growths or wattles, is considered
by the professional fancier as an important criterion of excel-
lence. If of perfect form and full size the wattles interfere
with the birds vision in the direction of its beak. The homing
faculty, or power to satisfy a desire to trace its way homewards
is not possessed in any high degree by Carrier pigeons.

Birds used in messenger service are common-looking pigeons
undistinguishabie by sight from the ordinary house pigeon
bred for the table. They cannot claim, as Carriers may, to
be a distinct species. In olden times— pigeons being used for

comparatively short distances — many varieties were available :
but, as time has passed, the principle of the survival of the
fittest has been in constant operation ; and now there are
classes of birds in which the homing faculty, with great powers
of wing and endurance, are highly developed.

Such pigeons are known in German as brief taiibcn — letter
pigeons : in French as voyageurs — travellers ; and in English
variously as travellers, couriers, homing and messenger
pigeons.

" Homing pigeon " may be the name in most general use.
It refers to the faculty which when highly developed renders
the bird useful.

" Messenger pigeon " would appear to be the most appro-
priate name, as it implies the service to which the bird is put.
The facility this bird has in directing its flight homewards has
been variously accounted for. Some ascribe it to an exerci.se
of highly developed intelligence, others to perfection of sight,
and yet others to instinct or intuition. In keeping with these
opinions we find that in selecting birds some people consider
that the form of the head is of special importance — breadth
between the eyes, and development backward from the eyes
indicating large brain. Others pay more attention to the eye
itself — looking to its brightness and prominence as evidence
of power of vision ; and even the colour of the eye is noted by
some. Again, others deem pedigree to be the only reliable
guide in selection.

It might be supposed that all would agree with regard to
strength being indicated by size. Yet, there are those who
prefer gracefully outlined slight birds — while many prefer
robust and sturdy-looking pigeons. Long tails and short
tails have their admirers.

With regard to the wings there is a near approach to
unanimity. Length of wing, breadth and firmness of pinion
webs and perhaps the straight alignment of the wing feather-
tips when the wing is fully expanded, are generally accepted
as desirable conditions.

There is perfect agreement in the view that trial in flight
affords the only conclusive test, and that birds which do not
pass through the ordeal satisfactorily should be removed from
the loft, since their inferiority may be repeated in their progeny.

With a view to ascertaining whether sight enabled the
messenger pigeon to trace its way homewards, birds have been
blinded before being thrown for flight, and they failed to find
their way. On the other hand they have been able to steer a
correct course through the darkness of night — and there are
innumerable instances of their passing directl)'^ homewards
over hundreds of miles by lines they had never previously
explored. It is difficult to conceive that any development of
what the five senses are understood to be, could enable a bird
to accomplish what the homer does.

From Berlin to Paris is, roughly, 500 miles. It is authenti-
cally recorded that a French bird captured near Paris was
conveyed to Berlin, kept there for four years, and then, on
escaping, returned to its loft in Paris. The writer of this
article purchased two birds at Toronto, eastward of which
place they had never been flown. From Toronto they were
conveyed to Kingston, 150 miles eastward, and there kept
prisoners in a breeding cage. Through an oversight they were
subsequently sent northward forty-seven miles to be flown
from Sharbot Lake. Instead of returning to Kingston they
went westward 1 50 miles direct to their old loft at Toronto.
These birds had been sent from Toronto to Kingston, and
thence to Sharbot Lake in a closed basket, and they had not
previously seen the intervening country. Neither sight nor
a combination of all five senses could have helped to guide
them. There are cases without number of birds being sent in
training 100, 200 and 250 miles beyond a point to which they
had previously been.

Whatever the homing faculty may be, it is one which is
present at a very early age and rapidly develops. It is
potentially present at the bird's hatching, and needs only
opportunity for development into activity. Very young birds

- : -•

'li

may be removed from the loft in which they have been hatched,
domiciled in a new home, and there liberated without much
risk of their deserting. Older birds cannot be so treated.

The rapid development of the homing faculty is illustrated
in the following experience : " The Scamp," when a squealer
three weeks old, was removed from the loft where it had been
hatched in Utica. New York, to a loft in Northampton, Mass-
achusetts. Thence it was being trained in a southwesterly
direction until White Plains, New York (105 miles) was
reached. From this station, instead of returning to Northamp-
ton, it made its way direct to its native loft in Utica, 153 miles
north-west of White Plains. From Utica it was returned by
express to Northampton and there kept a prisoner until
apparently redomiciled. Presently, however, accompanied by
a mate, it deserted and at noon of the same day the pair was
found to have turned out the occupants of the nesting place in
which the Scamp had been hatched at Utica, and to have
taken possession of his old residence.

Again, in 1882, Major-General Hazen, of the United
States Signal Service, and Major-General Breckinridge, of
the Department of the Pacific, had their attention directed
to the use of messenger pigeons for communicating between
signal stations and in Indian warfare. The War Department
enquiries resulted in an adverse report by Lieut. Birkhimer,
based upon information, not upon experience. Mr. E. H.
Conover, of Keyport, New Jersey, thereupon undertook to
prove that birds could be used for distances of 1 50 miles " be-
fore October of the year in which they were hatched," and
needed no gradual training. He tested the case with nine
young birds, with one exception under five months of age on
the 1 5th August when the experiment began, and none of
them had previously been more than sixty miles from home.

The successive flights were : 100 miles from Elkton, Mary-
land, 15th August; 117 miles from Havre de Grace, 19th
August ; 183 miles from Washington, 26th August ; 338 miles
from Lynchburg, Virginia, ist September.

The start from Washington was arranged under the super-
intendence of the United States chief signal ofificcr. The
return of the birds from this trip to Keyport was announced
at New York by message bird, and the result telegraphed to
Washington by noon, and received at Keyport by bird at
12.45 P'"- '" the flight from Lynchburg (338 miles) the start
took place at 6.10 am. The first bird home arrived at 6.01
p.m., having flown at a rate not less than a mile in 2 min, 7.6
sec. None of the birds were lost in these journeys.

In Belgian training, after attaining fifty miles, birds are
commonly sent to greater distances by successive stages of
fifty, 100 and 200 miles and even more at a time. Amongst
the regular long single day courses may be mentioned : —

Libge, from Toulouse 505 miles.

Ghent '• Morceux 545 "

Malines (Mechlin) from Tarbes 554 "

Ghent from Bayonne 560 *'

Litjge " Lourdes 565 '*

The distance between San Sebastian in Spain and Liege
in Belgium, 615 miles, was traversed by a bird in 1862 in one
day. This is probably the greatest distance which has been
passed over in a single flight. Fifteen other birds thrown at
the same time arrived at their loft early the following morning.

As instances of long rapid flights, may be mentioned that in
1885 a bird liberated at Abington in Virginia flew 508 miles
to Brooklyn at the rate of a mile in i min. 42.1 sec. ; and
35 1 /i miles between Chatellcrault and Verviers were passed
at the rate of one mile in i min. 12.87 sec.

The following are instances of rapid short flights : —

One mile in 60 seconds, 180 miles, Paris to Moulins.

" 59.6 " 177 miles, 1665 yds., Dijons to Blois.

" 58.8 *' loii " Albert to Shaerbeck.

" 58.5 " 243 " Cresson, Penn., to New York.

«* 57 *' 63 " Quievrain to Antwerp.

♦• 56 " 54I " St. Quentin to Boussu.

•♦ 55 •• 70I " Noyon to Flenu.

" 50.4 *' 215 " Etampes :o Louvain.

« 48 '♦ 80 " Arras to Antwerp.

■I

Amongst these instances two are exceptionally noteworthy :
In 1879, in the United Slates, the 243 miles between Cresson,
Pennsylvania, and New York were passed over at the rate of
1,805 yards in a minute.

From Etampes to I.ouvain, 215 miles were flown at the
rate of 2,095 yards in a minute.

A fair idea of the performance of a good bird may be
gathered from the result of a race from Orleans to St. Nicholas,
243 miles, on 6th June, 1875. Out of 1,445 birds thrown, the
214 which accomplished the distance in the shortest time
travelled at rates varying between 1,469.7 and 1,362 yards in a
minute, the slowest of these being 23 minutes later than the
swiftest in completing the flight.

When distances greater than can be flown in a continuous
period of daylight are attempted, the rate of flying is not
ascertainable, and the time occupied varies extremely. For
the present Canada is not interested in these longer flights ;
but it may be noted that the 1,600 miles between Aix-la-
Chapelle and Rome was passed in 10 days and 7^ hours, A
case of 1,500 miles having been passed over in three days is
somewhere mentioned.

A noted bird, Arnoux, that belonged to Mr. A. P. Baldwin,
of Newark, U.S., in the course of four months in 1885 flew as
follows, successively : —

Trained up to 150 miles.

Raced 130 "

" 196 "

*♦ 272 "

«♦ 372 "

" 535 "

515 '•

*• 1,010 "

Total 3,180 miles.

Later it was sent to Boutte, Louisiana, 1,154 miles; but,
news of its return had not been received by the publisher of
the paper from which these details have been taken.

It is observable that for its last finished race the bird had
been sent out 475 miles beyond a point to which it had pre-
viously been sent.

Hitherto mention has been made of flights over land only ;
but the bird's faculty enables it to find its way home across the
sea for distances but little short of those which it can accom-
plish over land in a single continuous flight.

There is reliable evidence of their conveying news from 320
miles, outside Sandy Hook. The United States Signal
Department place the sea limit at about 500 miles. Dr.
Johnson, of Keyport, one of the leading authorities on the
subject in the United States, is of opinion that 450 miles may
be regarded as the limit of reliance on the bird's power from
seaward.

Birds of the Plainfield Club have been successfully flown
from 100 miles at sea — 3CX) miles to their loft.

The regulations of the United States Government loft at
Key West Island — established for naval and military purposes
— intimate that their birds are to be trained to 100 miles in
their first year, an additional distance in the second year, and
to 400 miles in the third and subsequent years.

In the regulations just mentioned it is noted that " successful
flights have been made during storms of wind and rain, and
even during the night," but, a warning is added that only
tested and thoroughly reliable birds should be placed under
these disadvantages.

Count de Bury, of St. Johns, New Brunswick, has flown his
birds successfully through 12 miles of dense fog, and in snow
storms.

On the 30th of July, 1883, 650 pigeons sent from Verviers»
Belgium, to Calvi, Corsica, 560 miles, were there liberated.
They passed in a direct line homeward over Monaco, where
they were seen after crossing 93 y^ miles of sea from Corsica.
These birds, had they made for the nearest mainland to avoid
the sea would have followed a N.-E. course, instead of one to.
the west of north which they followed.

f !■

Mr. R. Stevens, of the Plainfield Club, New Jersey, flew
birds from Manassas, Virginia, about 23 1 miles, which returned
to his loft in heavy rain and fog, having moved at a rate not
less than 695 yards in a minute.

Between the Island of Maddalena — north coast of Sardinia
and Rome — 149 miles, all sea — communication has been kept
up by pigeons in all weathers.

Naples and Cagliari, Sardinia — 2793^ miles across sea, are
immediately connected by pigeons.

From what has been remarked, the power of the messenger
pigeon to endure the fatigue of long flights, and to select its
direction homewards, will readily be admitted. It is a matter
of general knowledge that these birds are prolific. A pair
may be counted upon to rear three pairs of young ones in the
course of a year. As many as nine pairs of young ones have
been reared by a single pair of birds in twelve months. The
birds are hardy and need no exceptional treatment apart from
training. Training is nothing more than giving them practice
in the exercise of their homing faculty.

One gramme, equal to 15.432 grains or .032 oz. avoirdupois,
is the weight which the French — during the siege of Paris by
the Germans — considered might be carried by pigeons with-
out affecting their flight. Two and one-quarter inches in
length of large turkey quill weighs about ^ gramme. Foreign
post note paper 14 sheets to i oz, gives about 43 square inches
of writing surface to the ^-gramme. A strip of such paper 10
inches long by about 2-^^ inches broad, rolled up and inserted
in the quill, would form what was held to be a pigeon load.

With this low limit of carrying power the resourceful
ingenuity of the French enabled them to send over one million
words by a single bird at one time ; and, not only this, but to
despatch the news received to the persons for whom it was
intended in a readable form, in a time beyond compar'ison
shorter than that in which the work could have been
accomplished had one or even .several telegraph wires been
available to them.

The small pictures, transpare^.cies, which, when passed be-
hind the lenses of a magic lantern, have their enlarged
duplicates cast on a screen, are familiar to all. The effects of
photographic slides used in magic lanterns are nearly as well
known as those of the old coloured slides. The photographic
slides are made of glass, and the pictures they bear are
shadowed on a transparent, sensitive medium, covering the
surface of the glass. The glass slides could not be carried by
pigeons; but sensitized films of collodion, having photographic
impressions on them could well be carried. The results
obtained were so remarkable that a few more details of the
subject may be given here. During the investment of Paris
messages were received by the postal authorities in London
for transmission to the beleaguered city, '"ertain conditions
were attached to the privilege of using this channel of
communication. A message might not contain intelligence
affecting the war proceedings. A message was limited to
twenty words. Postage at the rate of $d. a word, and a
registration fee of 6d. per message had to be prepaid.

By steps the method of conveying the messages gradually
improved and finally took the following shape :

On receipt of the messages in London, they were set in type,
and printed off on pages, including 200 messages each.

Assuming that correspondents took full advantage of their
opportunities — each printed page included 4,000 words — upon
which the charges would be : —

Postage £83 6s. 8d.

Registration 5 os. od.

Total for each page £88 6s. 8d.

The matter contained on sixteen of these pages was, by the
process of microphotography, depicted upon a transparent film
of collodion, measuring 2 inches bv i inch.

Each film might consequently have had the messages upon
which sixteen times ;^88 6s. 8d. or ;^ 1,4 13 6s. 8d. was payable
for postage and registration ; 18 of such film's rolled together

Iff

ill

and inserted in a quill, made up a pigeon load of one gramme,,
upon which ;^2 5,440 were the charges. This sum at $4.86 =£1
— is equivalent to $123,638.40 for freightage on each bird
load.

Postal communication between London and Tours was not
cut off during the war. Tours is about 132 miles S.W. from
Paris.

Pigeons carried out of Paris in balloons, were collected at
Tours. The quills with their charges of photographic films
were attached to the tails of the pigeons, and by them carried
into Paris. On receipt in Paris the films were opened out and
spread on plate glass slides. Screens to receive enlarged
pictures of the slides — through the intervention of the magic
lantern — were made of sensitized material, and thus were at
once obtained enlarged photographs of the matter on the
micro-photographic films. The screens were then cut up into
their separate messages, and these despatched to whom they
were addressed.

From the figures given it may be deduced that one full
pigeon load might have included 1,152,000 words. Supposing
these to have been received for dispatch by telegraph from
Tours, the following steps at least would have been entailed :
The messages would have had to be read and checked and
charged for ; transferred to the transmitting clerk, and by him
spelt over and transmitted ; the receiving clerk would have
also to spell over the whole and transcribe it, and possibly
duplicating for record purposes might have been required.

Allowing an average of four letters to a word, the number con-
veyed from Tours to Paris in less than three hours by a pigeon
would have been 4,608,000. By the telegraphic process these
must have been spelt over at least twice, and thus transcribed
at least once before being sent out for delivery. Against this
I set the photographic process by which the reading, spelling,
and transcribing is effected by light, mechanism and chemicals,
I almost instantaneously, and one may faintly realize the
economy effected in this case through the use of pigeons.

I have purposely left out of the account the type-setting
element in England, for I assume that the type-setting might
have been dispensed with by taking micro-piiotographs of the
messages as they were received in manuscript. Moreover it
was not always necessary in Paris to despatch the messages
to addresses. In a large darkened chamber many people
assembled and read on the screen the news intended for them.
Copies of the Times were thus published in Paris, and adver-
tisements from friends in England were readily picked out by
the spectators.

On the authority of the Century Magazine, for July, 1886,
the carrying power of the pigeon, under some circumstances,
would appear to be much in excess of i gramme. The Maga-
zine, relating that during the United States yacht races in
September, 1885, a pigeon service was extemporized by Mr.
Arnoux, states :

" The messages then sent from sea were each not less than
ten pages of manifold note, and were carried upon the middle
feathers of the tail, to which they were fastened by fine copper
wire wound about and pressed flat, to hold the messages close
to the feather. The editor of a newspaper served by these
pigeons said : ' It gives me a peculiar sensation to receive copy
from the hand of one I know to be out of reach upon the
water, and to feel that he may talk to me, but I cannot answer
him back. It is a wonder to me, after this experience, that
the officers of any vessel, excursion steamer, yacht, sail or tug
boat, should be willing to leave the shore without this means
of communicating with it.' "

What has been remarked will have sufficed to show that in
the homing pigeon we have a reliable, easily maintained and
readily multiplied messenger for distances within 400 miles in
all but extremely bad weather. The birds may be distributed
to a system of scattered centres, and thence transported with-
out difficulty by those who desire to avail themselves of their
services.

i'l

ft'

! I '

It is not an easy matter in these days of steamboats, rail-
ways, telegraphs and telephones to persuade people unaccus-
tomed to the use of pigeons that their employment can be
beneficial. Perhaps the task may be most easily approached
by some references to what has occurred within a few years in
almost every country in Europe.

There — as here — there were neither railways, steamers,
telegraphs nor telephones in the year 1800. The first railway
engine, only a comparative success, was ULjd at a Welsh
colliery in 1804. ^^ was not until 1830 that the first general
traffic railway was opened between Liverpool and Manchester ;
and there was no telegraph service before 1837. Preceding
those days messenger pigeons were scarcely heard of They
had been used, but only exceptionally. The London Stock
Exchange employed them between London and Paris. News-
paper and betting men used pigeons, and there were races in
Belgium. But, as said before, while Europe was without rail-
ways and telegraphs, messenger pigeons were not generally
heard of. Since 1830 the face of Europe has become a net-
work of railways and telegraph lines. It is desired to bring
forcibly under the notice of those who consider that railways
and telegraphs entirely dispense with the utility of pigeons,
that within the last fifty years, while railways and telegraphs
have been extending and multiplying beyond what would
have been considered sane expectation in Europe, it may be
said that pigeon service took its birth there, and has grown
to proportions that cannot fail to excite wonder. In France,
in Germany, in Austria, Italy, Russia, Spain and Portugal, the
governments now maintain numerous large pigeon service
establishments. Four of these countries employ the birds in
connection with the defence of their coasts ; all of them include
pigeon service as important departments of military organiza-
tion ; and all of them, with Denmark and Belgium added,
encourage the civil population to maintain lofts.

Belgium — the cradle of homing bird sport — is peopled, it
might almost be said, by loft-keepers. In 1885 it had over

1,000 pigeon associations. Yet there in the midst of universal
spontaneous action amongst the people, the Government
extends encouragement to breeders and trainers by awarding
liberal prizes for competition, and by affording special facilities
with regard to transport over the railways.

The Secretary of the London Amateur Pigeon Society notes,
that in seven provinces in Belgium there are records for 1873
of 1,045 races, receiving 22,656 prizes ; 1874, 1,225 races,
receiving 27,494 prizes. From only 12 places, and during the
short period of only 35 days in 1874, 7,787 birds were started,
the maximum length of course being 545 miles, and the average
length 330^ miles. In four races in 1875, an average of 1,654
birds started in each race for a mean distance of 246^ miles.

More than 1,500 races are held annually in competition for
900,000 francs in prizes.

The Century Magazine relates that at Ixelles, one of the
most enthusiastic centres of sport — a national sport in which (|s
even children and ladies may take part — a company of militia
was at drill early in the morning, to be free at the time the
'birds liberated in the races of the day should arrive. All went
well until the cloud of returning birds appeared on the horizon,
when there was an instant uneasiness in the ranks ; then, as
if with one impulse, the company broke, and rushed at full
speed to their lofts in the town. The officer, having his back
towards the birds, was speechless with amazement, until he
saw the cause, when he too joined in the stampede, regardless
of his accoutrements. The Morning Press, in comment, hoped
" if this should reach the ears of the authorities, they would
recognize the exigency of the occasion, and be lenient."

Russia began pigeon establishments in 1874, at Warsaw,
Moscow, and Kieff. Now, in small Poland alone the Govern-']
ment maintains the following lofts : —

Brest Litevski i ,000 birds.

Warsaw ^ 750 '*

Ivangarod 500 "

Nova Georgiensk 500 "

Louminetz 250 '*

At an annual cost of $3,742,20.

The staff superintending these consists of : i Lieutenant-
Colonel, 4 Subaltern Officers, 1 2 Trainers, 24 Servants.

Half a bushel of grain is allowed daily for every 100 birds.

The Russian vote for pigeon service is $io,cxx) annually.

Successful experiments were made in grand manoeuvres of
the Russian Army in using pigeons to keep up communication
between a detached turning force and the main body. On
such occasions telegraphs would be extremely exposed or
might be impracticable.

Russian cavalry scouting parties will probably be supplied
with birds.

A few years ago three millions of pigeons were taken into
France in the course of one season for training, from Germany
and Belgium.

The German Government in 1885 had nine military lofts.
Now it has lofts at Strasbourg, 600 birds, Metz, 600 birds,
Wurtzburg, Mayence, Cologne, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel, Dantzig,
Tonning, Schwetzinger near Manheim, Thorn, i,icx) birds,
Posen, etc. The whole of the German frontier is connected by
pigeon post with the interior and army headquarters. The
whole of its northern coast is studded with pigeon stations
under the control of the Minister of Marine.

Experiments have proved that pigeons bred on board ship
have no difficulty in recognizing their own vessels amongst a
number of others.

An ordinary German loft has 200 birds. In 1883-4 the
German vote on this account and visual signalling was $8,500.

The German pigeon service is now the most extensive and
complete in Europe.

There are 350 private pigeon societies in the country. Of
these many train in directions indicated by their War Minister.
The Emperor gives annually gold medals for competition in
races if not less than 248^ miles ; the Minister of War and
of Agpculture also grant prizes.

In Austria the first private loft was established in 1873.
The Government began work in 1875 at Komorn, and then

in 1882, at Cracow. Up till lately Austria had chiefly directed
attention to pigeon service for mountainous districts where
military telegraphs could not be laid with sufficient rapidity,
and visual signalling is constantly obstructed by intervening
elevations.

In Italy, the military pigeon system is extensive. The coast
lofts train from seaward with a view to cruiser service.

During the squadron manoeuvres pigeon reports had been
received many days in advance of advices sent at the same time
by despatch boat.

Italy has, moreover, connected Massowah and Assab in
Africa by pigeons.

The twelve principal Government lofts in continental Italy
are controlled by the Engineer in territorial command at Rome.

In Portugal there are Government pigeon stations at Lisbon,
Oporto, Setubal, Tameas, Vedras, Novas, Elvas and Mafra.

In Spain there are coast-guard pigeon stations to receive
messages from cruisers intercepting enemies' vesseL and to
check smuggling.

In Denmark the War Office grants prizes for competition
amongst private loft owners who are very numerous.

France has taken the subject up thoroughly. In 1885
France is said to have had 75,000 trained birds in her postal
service. Every one of her great fortresses has now about 400
birds, the Engineering Corps superintending their maintenance
and training.

The different pigeon societies, of which there are not fewer
than 300 in the country, are subject to military authority and
requisition. They are required to train their birds in direc-
tions conducive to military ends. At periodical contests the
Government awards Sevres vases, medals, diplomas and vari-
ous other distinctions. At the instance of the Government
societies' birds are carried at half ordinary fares, and empty
hampers are returned free of charge. Besides the large
societies there are small clubs, and individual loft owners — all
of whom have to make annual census returns of their birds.

\..«3

The Colombophile Society at Paris has a loft of 1,500 pairs
of birds, and supplies fortresses.

In 1885 France had eight military pigeon stations — Paris
with its central loft at Mont Valerien, Vincennes, Marseilles,
Perpignan, Lille, Verdun, Toul and Belfort — 100,000 francs
being appropriated for these.

Now her inland system is complete, a recent article in a
P'rench military paper remarking : " In a word, all dispositions
are made, so that when war breaks out, the service of messenger
pigeons will not have to be improvised as in 1870. An
exchange of correspondence between the central authority,
the governors of fortresses and intrenched camps is insured."

The United States took the question up in 1888, and the
Army Signal Office established a loft on Key West Island,
aiming amongst other objects, at communicating between
cruisers in the neighbouring seas and the mainland. Another
loft was established on board the Newhampskire at Newport,
Rhode Island.

Early last year it was reported that from Key West birds
had already been trained to bring messages from any easterly
direction 100 miles seaward.

It is now time to submit to those who argue that railways
and telegraphs make it unreasonable to promote the estab-
lishment of an organized system of pigeon lofts throughout
the country — and to others who take no interest in the matter
because it has no detachable coupons — it is time to submit to
such that they should reconsider their opinions, for it has
been shown that during the last fifty years, over the continent
of Europe — not the least intelligent and not the least experi-
enced quarter of the world — there has spread an amazing
system of railways and telegraph lines, and with these has
developed the most wonderful use of messenger pigeon service.
It has been shown that this has been arrived at through
unanimity of opinion amongst the vast majority and most
influential of technical experts in national defence, and with
the assent and concurrence of the leading statesmen in Europe

and the United States, who are not any of them ignorant of
the uses to which railways and telegraphs are applicable.

Is more needed to prove that our feathered messengers
should not be neglected by those of us wishing to strengthen B
our country's position ?

The patriotism of every Canadian will accord ready ^
approval and praise to the motives and aims of the enlightened
governments and officials who have been endeavouring to f
increase their national security. Are the approval and the '
praise to be accorded, but the example disregarded ?

Men whose thoughts have dwelt on the circumstances of-
warfare need no reminder of the importance of keeping con- !
trol over supplementary and alternative methods for rapidly
transmitting intelligence. A word, however, may not be out
of place here to others who have not considered the character
of the slender thread which conveys tho'^ght and even voice
to unlimited distances, with almost unmeasurable rapidity and
nearly uninterrupted regularity. So well nigh perfect is its
action that many have ceased to reflect that it has its weak
points.

In warfare it is not solely reliable. The message it carries
may be drawn off at any point in its length. False and mis-|l
leading information may be designedly passed through iti
from any point at which an expert can get hold of it. Its
vitality is at the mercy of the elements. Snow may break it
down, wind may throw it over, lightning may shiver its
supports. The scout and the secret agent can destroy it when
and where they choose.

In the case of an attack, the invader, at the cost of but
trifling pre-arrangement, might give many an idle hour to]
telegraph operators at the very instruments where the safety
of their country most needed their whole energies.

By pre-arrangement any wire or any sets of wires might be
severed at the instance of the enemy at a given hour if
desired. What would be the effect ? How would any large
and active firm be situated if it found communication between

''■■■ *;a

its manager, heads of departments and clerks suddenly cut off?
The normal smooth clockwork movement of the organization
would inevitably be replaced by confusion and impending
disaster.

How much more numerous are the vital parts in the
machinery of national defence, and how much more exposed
than those in the detached mechanisms of commerce ?

All the details of mobilization, concentration and tactical
movements in this country at this moment are dependent
upon our telegraph wires. What a slender thread to carry
our national safety !

With wires between army headquarters, divisional and
brigade headquarters severed, we should be open to attack
where the enemy purposely confused our arrangements.

In such a pass it is not too much to say that in organized
pigeon service, and in that only, could there be found ground
for expectation that the tables might be turned against the
enemy. They would keep us informed of his movements, and
would maintain our power to transmit orders uninterrupted.

The circumstance which gave a first impetus to military
pigeon service was its improvised use at the siege of Paris, in
1870. In the course of a review of an article on messenger
pigeons by an Austrian officer, an English' military paper
thus refers to the subject : —

" On September 2, 1870, the day of the battle of Sedan, one
of the most experienced breeders of carrier pigeons in
Belgium, M. La Perre de Roo, made the offer to the French
war minister, basing it on the assumption that from the
information published by English journals, Paris would be
shortly completely invested by the Germans, to furnish him
'with a supply of carrier pigeons for keeping up communication
I between Paris and the Provinces. His letter was never
ianswered.

I "After the appearance of the German army before the
Icapital the Paris association for breeding pigeons — L'Esper-
iance — generously offered to the Government all their carrier

pigeons for aerial postal service, and to conduct the latter,
M. Gassier, the president of the association, asked for an
audience of General Trochu, but was received by a subordin-
ate who, after hearing the patriotic pigeon breeder, smilingly
replied that he, M. Gassier, was the sixty-second person who
had bothered him with carrier pigeons, and he hoped he would
be the last.

" Meanwhile Paris, to the consternation of the inhabitants
and the annoyance of the daily press, which had been con-
stantly trying to prove that the immense city could never be
properly invested by the forces at the disposal of the enemy,
was cut off completely from the outer world.

" Notwithstanding that there were a great number of carrier
pigeons in Paris, not a single bird had been sent out of the
capital, so that it seemed entirely impossible to keep up com-
munication with the Provinces.

" In this dilemma the French postmaster-general, M. Ram-
pount, hit upon the ingenious idea of sending off a number of
piffeons by balloon. On September 25, at 1 1 a.m., the balloon —
La Ville de Florence — rose amidst the plaudits of an enormous
concourse of people, carrying besides the aeronaut, M. Maugin,
three carrier pigeons and six cwt. of despatches. The wind
carried the balloon westward until it disappeared from the eyes
of the Parisians. But, on the same day, at five in the after-
noon, two pigeons arrived at their home in Paris. Attached
to the tail feathers of each of them was a label with the
following words : — ' We landed safely at the village of
Vernouillet, near Triel, and are on the point of leaving for
Tours with the official despatches.'

"The population of Paris, who for the greater part had
probably never heard of the capabilities of carrier pigeons,^
were intoxicated with joy at such success. The newspapers
were full of illustrations of this breed of pigeons, and printed
most fabulous tales of their performances. Subsequently a
balloon was sent ofif every second or third day ; altogether
sixty-four balloons were despatched, and from the pigeons

<ir

V5|

taken, some returned almost regularly to Paris. . . . Many
f)crformed the journey from four to six times."

The writer of the article states that seventy-three birds
returned with despatches to Paris, and thence argues that only
twenty pigeons really did the work.

The " Encyclopaedia Britannica " states that fifty-seven was
the number which actually did the work.

The bird which repeated the trip six times was named " The
Angel of the Siege."

In addition to 156,000 oiificial despatches, over one million
private communications were carried by pigeons into Paris.

In P>ench experiments with pigeons for naval use — the first
attempt — made at Toulon, was to domesticate the bird on
board the St. Louts, artillery practice ship. The pigeon house
wzs placed near two seven and a-half inch and two nine and
a-half inch guns, firing an average of 600 rounds weekly.
The aide-de-camp of the Vice-Admiral Commander-in-Chief
at Toulon stated that the experiment to establish communi-
cation between a ship at sea and a pigeon loft ashore
succeeded perfectly. The converse experiment was not so
successful, but was to be repeated. The results, however,
proved that the homing bird adapts itself perfectly well to life
afloat and breeds there. The pigeon house on the SL Louis
had an inside capacity of three cubic metres, accommodating
eight pairs of birds.

As to the use of pigeons for naval purposes, a sketch by
Lieut. Wainwright, U. S. Coast Signal Service of Defence
Arrangements, will give a fair general idea of their importance
as auxiliaries. Lieut. Wainwright says : " An ideal system of
transmitting intelligence coastwise and to seaward during a
naval war would be one in which observation stations, con-
nected by telegraph lines, were established at certain intervals
along the coast ; at each station trained men with the neces-
sary instruments for receiving and sending visual signals ; at
certain of these stations pigeon lofts for furnishing pigeons to
lookout vessels and receiving from them reports, and also for

despatching birds with information to the outside stations of
the fleet ; also lofts, at such stations as from the position of
the telegraph lines, are liable to have their connections inter-
rupted, the birJs being used to maintain communication when
the lines are cut. All coast lines to be connected with the
interior lines whenever practicable, in order to give additional
security. The instruments necessary are heliographs, electro-
graphs, semaphores, and at the most important stations captive
balloons. By means of observation vessels also, furnished
with signal instruments and pigeons, the point towards which
the enemy is making would be known, and his progress along
the coast followed by observers, so that the defending fleet
might meet him, or acting as a flanking fleet, follow up and
engage him at the critical moment. If the enemy's fleet
break up into detachments the course of each will be known
to the admiral commanding the defence, and he can oppose
the enemy with similar detachments or keep his fleet together,
and overwhelm the smaller bodies with his united force.
Thus at a comparatively small cost, the efiective strength of
the fleet would be greatly increased to the greater security of
the defence.

" In times of peace these signal stations could be utilized
by the Life Saving Service and Weather Bureau, and for the
purpose of sending the usual commercial intelligence.

" As will be seen the system adopted by the French
approaches very closely the ideal one."

In Lieut. Wainwright's lucid sketch one cannot fail to be
struck by the great importance attached by him to pigeon
service.

The writer in the Royal Engineer Journal whose reference
to the Siege of Paris has been quoted, remarks on the organi-
7ation of military messenger pigeon posts : —

'* If it is to be used as an auxiliary means, whether of oflence
or defence, it must be organized thoroughly, efficiently and on
a large scale. A large fortress or other suitable place in the
heart of the country must be selected as the ceitral station,

! , '..J

where the carrier pigeons needed for stocking the pigeor*
stations of the whole country must be bred. The selection of
the stations which are to be connected mutually by carriers^
their housing, feeding and tending must be made the subject
of careful study. Of course only strategical consideration,
must be the guiding principles in selecting lines of flight, and
the organization of the carrier pigeon post must be left to the
general staff.

" Besides breeding pigeons in state columbaries private
breeders must receive every encouragement, so that in case of
war a large supply of those useful birds may be always
obtainable.

" The great military powers of Europe have recognized the
importance of this means of intercourse and have made most
extensive preparations,"

Of the uses to which the bird is put in peace the Century
Magazine, speaking of the United States, says : —

" In our country of magnificent distances and tardy mes-
sengers, pigeons are more largely employed as carriers than is
generally known, inasmuch as the service is mainly for indi-
vidual convenience. Very many business men in cities com-
municate with home in the suburbs by pigeon post, or use the
birds between office and factory. Farmers use them as mes-
sengers through the neighbourhood and from the post-ofiice
and the town. Country physicians often have an apartment
prepared for the birds in their conveyance and carry the birds on.
their rounds as regularly as they carry their instruments and
their bottles, using them to bring word later on from their
patients and to send word home when there is need. And even
New York brokers promise to follow the example of Mr. A. De
Cordova, who says : — ' I use my birds to bring the reports-
from Wall .jtreet to me at Chetolah, near North Branch.'
Mr. R. D. Hume, of Fruit Vale, California, claims to use
pigeons with complete success between his factories some
three hundred miles to the north. Years ago certain of the
Wells Fargo agents in the mountains of Nevada used pigeons

fe-

to bring them news from the nearest station the same day
that by the regular means would not have reached them until
the third day. There are many prominent men and capitalists
in the vicinity of New York to-day who owe their prosperity
to the foundation laid yea;*s ago through advices conveyed
by pigeons in advance of the mail by stage. . . . Very
many of the merchant marine, especially in European waters,
have pigeons on board for use in communicating with the
vessel from the small boats away from them, or from the
shore. The birds, it is said, never mistake another vessel for
their own at the dock or in the harbour. It has been
remarked of several flights that the birds in exercising, when far
out of sight of land, will go away for hours at a time, and
upon their return will have dried mud on their feet and legs,
shewing them to have been ashore."

The passage from land to land across the Atlantic by the
St. Lawrence is about 1,800 mile.s. Assuming that a vessel
on this line has a good Irish bird and a good Canadian bird
on board — then for only 900 miles will she be beyond com-
municating distance from the mainland.

The Newfoundland fishermen and vessels engaged in the
coasting trade and in navigating the inland lakes, explorers,
surveying parties, and sportsmen in remote districts, would
frequently avail themselves of the services of these birds were
there lofts whence they might readily obtain them when
required for use.

Who can estimate the mitigation of anxiety that pigeons
might have afforded to the passengers of the City of Pat is in
her recent accident ? At what a slight cost this relief might
have been supplied !

Why should not all transatlantic steamers carry birds with
them to announce the approach to either coast ?

The Illustrated Daily Graphic in England has its pigeon
loft. Its birds brought to it a succession of sketches taken on
board a steam launch following the course of the Oxford and
Cambridge race ; and from the train in which the Prince of

t)l

•"^T'.''^,fm "T

Wales travelled to open the Forth Bridge its pigeons brought •
pictures of incidents en route.

Newspaper men here might receive early photographic copies
of European news two or three days in advance of the arrival
of the mails by vessels liberating messenger pigeons. The
eastern Canadian press might exchange news in a similar way
with the western press, and Canada generally exchange with the
United States. With well-tested, reliable birds, it might even be
possible to transmit official despatches between the British
Embassy at Washington and Ottawa — more rapidly far than
by mail.

It is earnestly hoped th . . not a few of those who read this
article will consider it a citizen's duty to encourage the breed-
ing and training of messenger pigeons as a means of furnishing
abundance of innocent :imusement to young and old alike, as
useful helps in domestic and personal affairs, as servants of
the press, as aids in the transaction of business, as assistants
in commerce, as invaluable friends of the merchantile marine,
and as indispensable auxiliaries to the navy and army in the
time of our country's need.

D. R. Cameron.

mpi

■'4 J

1 1

•

■y

.;?«

'1^

.. :i :^m

/ ■; -C

' .■ff.:Vm

.■ •■M. -A^

:AM

' ■ '•! ,-.■ ' ••«

V .J! ■■■

• ■■'"'"u/'.H,

■

::^ii i

■-' ~-li

,: -^^1^

^-V:^

^ -^

■v-*''

»P'-J^-

'\*l'

« ^^-^^