220 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



way, as if the forest had been swept by a tornado. Every- 

 thing proved to me that the number of birds resorting to this 

 part of the forest must be immense beyond conception. As 

 the period of their arrival approached, their foes anxiously 

 prepared to receive them. Some were provided with iron 

 pots containing sulphur, others with torches of pine knots, 

 many with poles, and the rest with guns. The sun was lost 

 to our view% yet not a dozen had arrived. Everything was 

 ready and all eyes were gazing on the clear sky which ap- 

 peared in glimpses through the tall trees. Suddenly there 

 burst forth a general cry of ' Here they come.' The noise wiiich 

 they made, though yet distant, reminded me of a hard gale 

 at sea passing through the rigging of a close-reefed vessel. 

 As the birds arrived and passed over me, I felt a current of 

 air that surprised me. Thousands were soon knocked down 

 by the pole men. The birds continued to pour in. The fires 

 were lighted, and a magnificent as w^ell as wonderful and 

 almost terrifying sight presented itself. The pigeons arrived 

 by thousands, alighted everywhere, one above another, until 

 solid masses as large as hogsheads were formed on the 

 branches all around. Here and there the perches gave way 

 under the weight with a crash, and falling to the ground 

 destroyed hundreds of the birds beneath, forcing down the 

 dense groups with which every stick Avas loaded. It was a 

 scene of uproar and confusion. I found it quite useless to speak 

 or even to shout to those persons who were nearest to me. 

 Even the reports of the guns were seldom heard, and I was 

 made aware of the firing only by seeing the shooters reloading. 

 " No one dared to venture within the line of devastation. 

 The hogs had been penned up in due time, the picking up of 

 the dead and wounded being for the next morning's employ- 

 ment. The pigeons were constantly coming, and it was past 

 midnight before I perceived a decrease in the number of those 

 that arrived. The uproar continued the whole night ; and, 

 as I was anxious to know to what distance the sound reached, 



