The Passenger Pigeon 31 



pigeon daily consumes fully half a pint of food, the 

 quantity necessary for supplying this vast multitude 

 must be eight millions, seven hundred and twelve thou- 

 sand bushels per day. 



As soon as the pigeons discover a sufficiency of food 

 to entice them to alight, they fly around in circles, re- 

 viewing the country below. During their evolutions, 

 on such occasions, the dense mass which they form ex- 

 hibits a beautiful appearance, as It changes its direction, 

 now displaying a glistening sheet of azure, when the 

 backs of the birds come simultaneously into view, and 

 anon, suddenly presenting a mass of rich deep purple. 

 They then pass lower, over the woods, and for a 

 moment are lost among the foliage, but again emerge, 

 and are seen gliding aloft. They now alight, but the 

 next moment, as If suddenly alarmed, they take to wing, 

 producing by the flapping of their wings a noise like 

 the roar of distant thunder, and sweep through the 

 forests to see if danger is near Hunger, however, soon 

 brings them to the ground. When alighted, they are 

 seen Industriously throwing up the withered leaves in 

 quest of the fallen mast. The rear ranks are con- 

 tinually rising, passing over the main body, and alight- 

 ing In front, in such rapid succession, that the whole 

 flock seems still on the wing. The quantity of ground 

 thus swept is astonishing, and so completely has it been 

 cleared, that the gleaner who might follow in their rear 

 would find his labor completely lost. Whilst feeding. 



