A.VES— PIGEQN. 577 



name froiii its notes, which seem exactly to articulate those words. It 

 commences its singular call generally in the evening, soon after sunset, and 

 continues it with short occasional interruptions for several hours. Towards 

 morning these repetitions are renewed. This note instantly attracts the 

 attention of a stranger, and is strikingly different from that of the whip- 

 poor-will. In sound and articulation it seems plainly to express the words 

 which have been applied to it, pronouncing every syllable leisurely, and 

 distinctly, putting the principal emphasis on the last word. In a still 

 evening it may be heard at the distance of nearly a mile; the tones of its 

 voice being stronger, and more full, than those of the whip-poor-will, whc 

 utters his with much greater rapidity. 



The flight of this bird is slow, skimming about the surface of the ground, 

 frequently settling on old logs, or on the fences, and from thence sweeping 

 around in pursuit of various insects, that fly in the night. Like the whip- 

 poor-will, it prefers the declivities of glens, and other deeply shaded places, 

 making the mountains resound with echoes the whole evening. 



ORDER IX.-COLUMB^, 



Birds of this order have the bill of moderate dimensions, compressed ; 

 base of the upper mandible covered with a soft skin, in which the nostrils 

 are perforated, the tip more or less curved; feet with three toes in front, 

 quite divided, and one behind. This order contains but one genus, but is 

 numerous in species, and these are very widely dispersed over the world. 



THE AMERICAN W I L D PIGEON,! 



Called also the passenger pigeon, is the most remarkable of this whole 

 order of birds. It is about the size of the common domestic pigeon. The 

 head, throat, and upper parts of the body are ash colored ; the sides of the 

 neck are of a glossy variable purple; the fore part of the neck and breast 

 are vinaceous ; the under parts of a similar color, but paler ; and there is a 

 crimson mark round the eyes. These birds visit the different parts of North 

 America, in such immense flocks, that we may justly apply to them Milton's 

 expression of " numbers numberless." Their habits and migrations, and 

 the manner in which they are pursued by man and beast, are thus described 

 by Mr Audubon. " The most important facts connected with the habits of 

 these birds, relate to their extraordinary associations and migrations. No 



1 Columba migratoria, Lin. The characteristics of the genus Columba, are, bill of 

 medium size, straight, compressed, arched, tip curved ; base of the upper mandible covered 

 with a soft skin, more or less inflated; nostrils in the middle of the membrane; legs 

 generally red ; three toes before, entirely divided, one behind, articulated on the heel ; 

 wings with the second quill feather longest. 



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