roposes: (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._

* * * * *

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]

The Tynwald is 265 feet long, 34 feet 6 inches beam, and 14 feet 6
inches depth moulded, the gross tonnage being 946 tons. The desire of
the owners to put the vessel alternately on two distinct services
required special arrangement of the saloons. Running between Liverpool
and the island there was no necessity for sleeping accommodation, as
the passage is made in about three hours; and the ship had to be
suited to carry immense crowds. But as the owners wished on special
occasions to run the vessel from Glasgow to Manxland it