240 HISTORY OF THE 



as a roost about a fortnight wlien he visited it. Their dung 

 was several inches deep on the ground. Many trees had been 

 broken down by their weight, as well as many branches of 

 the largest and tallest trees. The forest seemed as if it had 

 been swept by a tornado. Everything gave evidence that the 

 number of birds resorting to that part of the forest must be im- 

 mense. A large number of persons collected before sunset to 

 destroy them, provided with torches of pine knots, and armed 

 with long poles and guns. The Pigeons began to collect after 

 sunset, their approach preceded, even when they were at a dis- 

 tance, by a noise like that of a hard gale at sea sounding in the 

 rigging of a vessel. As the birds passed over him, they created 

 a strong current of air. The birds arrived by thousands, fires 

 were alighted, and the work of destruction commenced. Many 

 were knocked down by the pole men. In many cases they col- 

 lected in such solid masses on the brandies that several of their 

 perches gave way and fell to the ground, in this way destroying 

 hundreds of the birds beneath them. It was a scene of great 

 confusion and continued until past midnight, the Pigeons still 

 continuing to arrive. The sound made by the birds at the roost 

 could be heard at the distance of three miles. As day ap- 

 proached, the noise in some measure subsided; and long before 

 objects were distinguishable the Pigeons began to move off, and 

 before daylight all that were able to fly had disappeared. The 

 dead and wounded birds were then collected and piled into 

 heaps by those who had assembled for the purpose. 



"Though for the most part living, moving and feeding to- 

 gether in large companies, the Wild Pigeon mates in pairs for 

 purposes of breeding. They have several broods in the season, 

 and commence nesting very early in the spring, the time being 

 considerably affected by the amount of food." 



Their nests are placed on trees, and in communities; a slight 

 platform structure of twigs, without any material for lining what- 

 ever. Eggs two, 1.45x1.05; white; in form, varying from el- 

 liptical to oval. 



