140 The Passenger Pigeon 



invading the grounds at night and striking the trunks 

 of the trees with a heavy axe or sledge hammer, upon 

 which the squabs would tumble out of the nests on the 

 ground, and be picked up and carried to Monson's and 

 shipped to New York the next day. 



I do know, however, that from a natural ice house 

 and the ice house belonging to our club, these persons 

 obtained not less than fifteen tons of ice for the purpose 

 of preserving the squabs. 



This is the last flight of pigeons that has ever taken 

 place in this part of the country, so far as I have any 

 knowledge, and I am very sure that if there had been 

 any I would have known it. 



PoUGHKEEPSiE, N. Y., May 12. 



