PASSENGER PIGEON. 188 



pigeons cjiused the clioler.-i, iiiui then they were allowed to pass on 

 their way unmolested. 



After that year the flocks rapidly decreased in nuinl>er, till at 

 present the annual migr-ations have entirely ceased. 



The food of the species consists chiefly of beech nuts, wild lierries, 

 and seeds of different kinds. These disappear as the countr}'^ comes 

 under cultivation, and the pigeons seek the less settled districts in 

 search of their favorite fare. At present we hear of them being 

 exceedingly abundant in the valley of the upper Mississippi, and 

 as they are quite hardy, they probably extend up north into the 

 "Great Lone Land." 



Those who wish to see such flocks of pigeons as used to pass over 

 Ontario will have to follow them there, for in all probability they 

 will never be seen here again. 



Such is the record for the species written in ISS.'}, and since that 

 date there has been little to add to their history in Ontario, for with 

 the exception of one or two stragglers occasionally met with in the 

 beech woods, they have left the Province. 



I find, however, that two enthusiastic ornithologists have acted 

 on the closing suggestion of the preceding notice, and have followed 

 the birds to the far west. They did not succeed in finding any large 

 roost, but gained much information regarding the habits of the birds, 

 some of wliich I shall here repeat, for the questions are often asked, 

 "Has the Wild Pigeon become extinct ?" "Where has it gone?" 

 It is to Wm. Brewster, Esq., of Cambridge, Mass., that I am indebted 

 for the information which enables me to reply to these questions. 

 In the interest of science he followed the birds to their haunts, and 

 in the Auk for October, 1889, he gives a most interesting account of 

 the trip. I would fain give the article in full, but I can only make 

 a few extracts. He says : "In the spring of 1888, my friend Capt. 

 Bendire wrote me that he had received news from a correspondent 

 in central Michigan that Wild Pigeons had arrived there in great 

 numbers and were preparing to nest. Acting on this information, I 

 started at once in company with Jonathan Dwight, jun., to visit the 

 expected 'nesting' and learn as much as possible about the habits 

 of the breeding birds, ;us well as to secure specimens of their skins 

 and eggs." On reaching Cardillac, on the 8th of May, they found 

 that large flocks had passed north late in April, and the professional 

 pigeon netters expected to hear of their settling not far off, and were 

 busy getting their nets in order. From them much information 

 was gained regarding the habits of the birds. " Our principal 



