The Passenger Pigeon 63 



men, and lumbermen, we obtained much information 

 regarding the flight of 1888, and the larger nestings 

 that have occurred in Michigan within the past decade, 

 as well as many interesting details, some of which ap- 

 pear to be new about the habits of the birds. 



"Our principal informant was Mr. S. S. Stevens, of 

 Cadillas, a veteran pigeon netter of large experience, 

 and, as we were assured by everyone whom we asked 

 concerning him, a man of high reputation for veracity 

 and carefulness of statement. His testimony was as 

 follows: 'Pigeons appeared that year in numbers near 

 Cadillac, about the 20th of April. He saw fully sixty 

 in one day, scattered about in beech woods near the 

 head of Clam Lake, and on another occasion about one 

 hundred drinking at the mouth of the brook, while a 

 flock that covered at least 8 acres was observed by a 

 friend, a perfectly reliable man, flying in a north- 

 easterly direction. Many other smaller flocks were re- 

 ported." 



"The last nesting of any importance in Michigan was 

 in 1 88 1, a few miles west of Grand Traverse. It was 

 only of moderate size, perhaps 8 miles long. Subse- 

 quently, in 1886, Mr. Stevens found about fifty dozen 

 pairs nesting in a swamp near Lake City. He does 

 not doubt that similar small colonies occur every year, 

 besides scattered pairs. In fact, he sees a few pigeons 

 about Cadillac every summer, and in the early autumn 

 young birds, barely able to fly, are often met with 



