Pigeons for the Antarctic Regions.

Manawatu Herald, 5 January 1899, Page 3

Pigeons for the Antarctic Regions.

# Just before the exploring steamer Southern Cross left Hobart for the frozen south (says the " Mercury "), Mr E. M. Dollery placed on boardten pairs of homing pigeons, which he had presented to Mr Borchgrevink, the leader of the expedition. The birds were bred by Mr Dollery, from a cross between the English and Belgian strains, noted for their high homing qualities, and were specially selected by Mr Borchgre • vink. They are to be housed at the permanent headquarters of the ex pedition, and are to be used as a means of communication between there and the sledging parties to be sent out in various directions. This experiment will be watched with interest by all flyers, as it affords tbe first opportunity yet offered to obtain reliable information as to how homers would support existence at suoh low temperatures as these birds will be exposed to. Of the homing pigeons belonging to three or four local fanciers given to Mr Borchgrevink on his leaving Hobart on the 18 :h inst., to liberate oa the following day, one arrived home on the 19th, but no message attached to it, as expected, the missive having probably come off. Oo the afternoon of the 20th a second bird got home with the following message : -"The leader, staff, and crew send Christmas greetings to Tasmania : Southern Cross, 17/18/98. C.E. B k, 18/12, 11 a.ra.