Swallows as Carriers.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 1 November 1890, Page 2

Swallows as Carriers.

1 — " ♦ — • Interesting experiments of th§ capabilities of swallows as carriers have, writes a Dunkirk correspondent, been "attempted at Roubaix by M. Jean Desbouvrie. a well known bird-trainer. They took 'place "before a great concourse of spectator* A number of swal'ow's which had been in the trainer's hands for about three w.-eks weiv set free each bird having a coloured ribbon attached to it» claw. They took their flight in all directions, and w^re soon out of sight. Twenty minuti's later, however one swallow came back and making for M. Besbourrie^pprchAji on his finger. It w; s noon followed by its companion, and in less than half an hour the whole covey had returned. Swallows fly higher and with greater swiftness ihan pigeons, and are a'ao more intelligent. M. Desbouvrie, who states "that 'he is prepared to guarantee the efficacy of his system of training, frequently allows his swallows to To low him in in his daily walks The molt serious objection lies in th« fact of swallows fearing the cold, and being in the habit of migrating to . warmer climatPS when winter sets in. The Roubaix trainer, however, exhibited swallows which he had kept during a whole winter season, and he is of opinion that it is neither impossible nor eveu difficult to accustom them to support the sharpness of the atmosphere. He propose to proceed with his experiments, and will despatch his swal.ows from any town, feeling full confidence in their ability to reach home. His object is. to encourage the creation of swallow houses throughout France. Should his future tests prove as conclusive as the first, it is not improbable that •wal ows may supersede pigeons as carriers.