During the 19th - century Franco - Prussian War , besieged Parisians used carrier pigeons to transmit messages outside the city ; in response , the besieging German Army employed hawks to hunt the pigeons .
During the 19th - century Franco - Prussian War , besieged Parisians used carrier pigeons to transmit messages outside the city . 
 In response , the besieging German Army employed hawks to hunt the pigeons .