On the 13th of January, 1881, nineteen of these societies, at the head of which must be placed the Columbia, of Cologne, combined into a federation.  At the end of the year the association already included sixty-six societies.  On the 1st of December, 1888, it included seventy-eight, with 52,240 carrier pigeons ready for mobilization.

The first two articles of the statutes of the Federation are as follows: 

“I.  The object of the Federation is to unite in one organization all societies of pigeon fanciers in order to improve the service of carrier pigeons, which, in case of war, the country must put to profit.

“II.  The Federation therefore proposes:  (a) To aid the activity of pigeon-fancying societies and to direct the voyages of the societies according to a determined plan; (b) to form itinerent societies and on this occasion to organize expositions and auction sales of pigeons; (c) to maintain relations with the Prussian Minister of War; (d) to obtain diminutions and favors for transportation; (e) to make efforts for the extermination of vultures; (f) to obtain a legal protection for pigeons; and (g) to publish a special periodical for the instruction of fanciers.”

Italy.—­The first military dove cote in Italy was installed in 1876 at Ancona by the twelfth regiment of artillery.  In 1879, a second station was established at Bologna.  At present there are in the kingdom, besides the central post at Rome, some fifteen dove cotes, the principal ones of which are established at Naples, Gaeta, Alexandria, Bologna, Ancona and Placenza.  There are at least two on the French frontier at Fenestrella and Exilles, and two others in Sardinia, at Cagliari and Maddalena.  The complete system includes twenty-three; moreover, there are two in operation at Massoua and Assab.

The cost of each cote amounts to about 1,000 francs.  The pigeons are registered and taken care of by a pigeon breeder (a subofficer) assisted by a soldier.  The head of the service is Commandant of Engineers Malagoli, one of the most distinguished of pigeon fanciers.

We represent in Fig. 2 one of the baskets used in France for carrying the birds to where they are to be set free.—­La Nature.

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THE ISLE OF MAN TWIN SCREW STEAMER TYNWALD.

We place on record the details of the first high speed twin screw steamer built for the service.  Of this vessel, named the Tynwald, we give a profile and an engraving of stern, showing the method of supporting the brackets for propeller shafting.

[Illustration:  Twin screws—­rear view]