THE SPEED OF PIGEONS.

fTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sra,—In an article, "Bird Life from the Train;" in the Spectator of September 3rd, the following passage occurs :— "Both wood-pigeons and carriers fly fast and straight, but records •prove -that even the latter when specially trained average at most forty miles• (per hour); the train always leaves Ahem behind." South African carriers can, however, do better than that, as .the subjoined records of speed of over forty miles per hour, given me by a Kimberley friend, will show, and certainly no South African train ever leaves them behind. The velocities are reckoned upon a straight line course from libera- tion point to loft, and from the time of liberation until the .pigeon actually enters its loft and its arrival is registered by the owner in a proper timing clock. There is no certainty that the birds fly exactly along the straight line; there is up hill and down dale, and from Capetown there are three or more high mountain ranges to surmount, or they may deviate to.the right or left. Also, the birds usually take some minutes ,after liberation before they make off for home, and sometimes settle on a neighbour's roof before entering the loft, so it may safely be said in all cases the actual average velocity is higher than the results show.—I am, Sir, &c., S. P. TOWNSEND. S. P. TOWNSEND.

Southfield Road, Plumstead, Cape Province, South Africa. November 14th.

Kimberley Races

Race Point.

Maquassi Potchefstroom Krugersdorp Three Slaters Nylstroom Prince Albert Road Pietersburg Capetown • •

Mochudi • •

Francistown East London Rustenburg (Transvaal) East London (Cape) Horning

1921 Season.

• • • •

• • • • • •

..

• • • •

In 1917.

• •

Homing to ..

Distance Kimberley

Society.

from

X121 194 254 237 352 346 432 512 327 533

Society.

510 ..

Velocity of winner in miles per hour.

43.77 48.61 44.62 40.10 42.85 45.85 46.73 45.57

59.85 42.00 49.05