The Passenger Pigeon 27 



shows their power of speed to be at an average about 

 one mile in a minute. A velocity such as this would 

 enable one of these birds, were it so inclined, to visit the 

 European continent in less than three days. 



This great power of flight is seconded by as great a 

 power of vision, which enables them, as they travel at 

 that swift rate, to inspect the country below, discover 

 their food with facility, and thus attain the object for 

 which their journey has been undertaken. This I have 

 also proved to be the case, by having observed them, 

 when passing over a sterile part of the country, or one 

 scantily furnished with food suited to them, keep high 

 in the air, flying with an extended front, so as to enable 

 them to survey hundreds of acres at once. On the con- 

 trary, when the land is richly covered with food, or the 

 trees abundantly hung with mast, they fly low, in order 

 to discover the part most plentifully supplied. 



Their body is of an elongated oval form, steered by a 

 long, well-plumed tail, and propelled by well-set wings, 

 the muscles of which are very large and powerful for 

 the size of the bird. When an individual is seen glid- 

 ing through the woods and close to the observer, it 

 passes like a thought, and on trying to see It again, the 

 eye searches in vain; the bird Is gone. 



The multitudes of wild pigeons in our woods are 

 astonishing. Indeed, after having viewed them so 

 often, and under so many circumstances, I even now 

 feel inclined to pause, and assure myself that what I 



