The Last of the Pigeons 16 1 



vicinity. They were shot in the summer of 1883 dur- 

 ing the blueberry season. I should estimate that as 

 many as fifty birds were taken that summer. I cannot 

 Imagine why they should have disappeared from this 

 region. I have no reports concerning the birds from 

 the north shore. 



In 1897 a young bird was taken In the neighboring 

 town of Norway with a broken wing and identified by 

 hunters who had known the species in the day of Its 

 abundance. 



Dr. J. D. Cameron of this city Informs me that he 

 saw a flock of about fifty birds flying over the St. 

 George Hospital of this place on the 28th of October, 

 1900. He was positive that he was not mistaken, as 

 the birds were flying low, and he had formerly been well 

 acquainted with the species in Canada. You can take 

 this latter for what it is worth. Dr. C's. veracity Is 

 beyond question, but whether he could have mistaken 

 some other birds for the pigeons I am not prepared to 

 say. He is not interested In ornithology and I would not 

 expect him to recognize ordinary birds, but he may 

 have hunted the wild pigeon In his younger days 

 and so be familiar with Its manner of flight. I 

 cannot Imagine any other birds that he could mistake 

 for them. 



I have an Idea that I may have seen one myself In the 

 summer of 1900 , but am not sufficiently well acquainted 

 with It to recognize it at sight. I fired at it with a .22 



