The Rhode Islander

Flight of Carrier Pigeons.—In the foreign papers received by the Britannia, there is an account of an extraordinary and singular flight of carrier pigeons, from Birmingham to Antwerp, to decide a match. About three hundred pigeons, belonging to merchants and other parties at Antwerp, was despatched simultaneously at Handsworth, at 6 o'clock, on the morning of the 12th ult. The whole flock reached Antwerp the same morning, the first pigeon having reached there at half past 9 o'clock, followed in rapid succession by the others, in fives and tens, the last pigeon reaching its destination at half past 10. Estimating the distance from Birmingham to Antwerp (measuring in a straight line) at 300 miles, and allowing for the difference in time between the two points, the first bird would appear to have travelled at the surprising velocity of 60 miles per hour! It is not the least singular fact connected with the match that amongst so large a number of pigeons not one should have wandered from its forward course. At the same rate of speed, the Atlantic Ocean could be crossed in about 34 hours, or a day and a half, if the powers of any bird could endure so long a flight, without rest or sustenance.