The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-12-08
Carrier Pigeons.

Inc nrSt mentlon we md made OF the
employment oil pigeons, as letter carriers,
is by Ovid, in his "Metamoryhoses," who
tells us that Tanrothenes, by pigeon stain.
ed with purple, gave notice of his having
been victor at the Olympic games, on the
very same day, to his father at Egina.
When the city of Ptoemais, in Syria,
was invested by the French and yenitans,
and it was ready 10 fall into their hands,
they observed pigeon flying over them,
and Immediately conjectured that it was
charged with letters TO the garrison. On
this, the whole army raising loud shou',
SO coniounded the poor aerial post that it
fell 10 the ground-and on being seized
letter was found under its wings from the
Sultan, in which he assured the garrison
that she would be with them in three days
with an army sufficient to raise the seige."
For this letter the tesiegers substituted ano.
ther, 10 this purpose, ''tnat the garrison must
see 10 their own safety, for the Sultan had
such other affairs pressing him, tina, it was
impossible for him TO come 10 their succor;n
and with ihis false intelligence they let the
pigeon fly on his course. The garrison,
deprived, BY this decree, of all hopes of re-.
lief, Immediately surrendered. The Sultan
appeared on the third day as promised,
with powerful army, and was not little
mortified TO find the city already in the
hands of the Christians.
In the East, the employment of pigeons
in the conveyance OF letters is still yerv
common, particularly in Syria, Arabia and
Egypt Every bashaw has generally bas-
ket full of them sent him from the grand
seraglio, where they are bred, and in case
OF any insurreciion or other emergency, he
is enabled, by letting loose Two or more of
these extraordinary messengers, to convey
intelligence 10 the government long before
it could be possibly obtained by any other
means
The diligence and speed with which these
feathered messengers wing their course, is
extraordinary. From the instant of their
liberation, their flight is directed through
the clouds at an immense height, TO the
place Of their destination. They are be.
lieved 10 dart onward in a straight line, and
never descend except when at loss for
breath, aud then they are to be seen com.
monty, at dawn of day, lying on their backs
on the ground with their bills open, sucking
with hasty avidity the dew OF the morning.
ot their speed, the instances related are al
most incredible.
The Consul of AIsxandria send. despatch.
es by these means 70 Ale ppo, in five hours,
through Carriers occupy the whole day, and
proceed with The utmost expedition from
one town to another ~
Some years ago, gentleman sent car.
rier pigeon from London, by the stage
coach, 10 his friend in St. Edmundsbury,
together with note, desiring that the pigeon
two days after its arrival there, might be
thrown up precisely when the town.clock
struck nine in the morning. This was done
accordingly, and.the pigeon arrived in Lon.
don, and flew 10 the Bull Inn, Bishops Gate
street, into the loft, and was there shown at
half past eleven o'clock, having flown sew
enty Two miles in two hours and half.
Al An,werpt in 1919, one of the thirty.two
pigeons belonging TO that city, who had
been conveyed to London, and there let
loose, made the transit back, being dis
tancs in a direct line oil one hundred and
eighty miles, in six hours.
IT is through the attachment Of these
birds 10 the place of their birth, and parlic.
uarly TO the spot where they had brought
up their young that they are thus rendered
useful TO mankind. When young one
flies very hard at home, and is come 10 it's
full strength, it is carried in basket or
Otherwise abont half mile from its loft, and
there turned out. Alter this it is,carried
mile, two, four, eight, ten, twenty, &C., ill
at ength it will return from the farhermost
parts Of the country.
How To GAiN SiruArIons-There ia ma