The use and breeding of the homing pigeon has become a global pastime, with racing pigeons frequenting the sky. But pigeons have also had a practical wartime function in Europe. Pigeon post was in operation when Paris was besieged during the Franco-Prussian War of 1871-1871. The four-and-a-half-month siege meant that the post conldn't be delivered by the usual means. The only successful method was by the time-honoured carrier pigeon, wihc took thousands of messages, official and private, in and out of the city.