LE PIGEON MESSAGER

Thème.

It was only in the second half of the last centnry that carrier-pigeons became known in Enrope, althongh the Greeks had used them to make known the name of the victor in the Olympic games. During the siège of Paris (1870-1871), those birds were utilized to convey news from the provinces to the capital. Their swiftness and their instinct are both admirable. They can easily go 60 miles an honr, and there are many examples of mnch greater speed. For instance, in 1885, four carrier-pigeons flew from Paris to Bnda-Pesth in seven hours, which is at the raté of abont 105 miles an hour. It is in Holland that the best results hâve been attained, and it is probably the only conntry where pigeons hâve been taught to go and corne back from one city to another. Usually they hâve to be taken away from their honse, where they return

Exercices de Traduction. 209

when they are set free ; but in Holland they hâve been trained to make round trips between two cities.

Thèse élever birds can be employed for many useful purposes, and only recently, in the United States, fishermen bave begun to use tbem to carry to hsh-dealers in the cities news about the success or failure of the fishing expéditions.

It must be said, however, that carrier-pigeons are not able to make any headway in stormy weather, which will prevent their being used to inf orm people on land when a vessel is in danger of being wrecked.