THE OOLOGIST. 



45 



the markings of the wild pigeon, wit- 

 nessed the sight. The flock was also 

 seen at Aquila Lake. The re-appear- 

 ance of these birds after an absence of 

 twenty-three years has caused consid- 

 able speculation among the sportsmen 

 of this locality. Wild pigeons were 

 last seen near Chardon in April, 1883. 

 The last great flight of these birds in 

 northern Ohio, was witnessed in the 

 spring of 1876. The pigeons reappear- 

 ed in the spring of 1877, but in greatly 

 diminished numbers. Their total dis- 

 appearance later caused the belief to 

 become general that the birds had been 

 annihilated by market hunters. For 

 years the Smithsonian Institution has 

 had a standing offer of $1,000 for a 

 single specimen of the American wild 

 pigeon. At various times the presence 

 of pigeons has been reported in remote 

 sections of foreign countries, but all 

 efforts to locate the birds in the United 

 States have proved fruitless.— Toledo 

 Blade. 



Re-appearance of the Pigeons. 



In certain localities in New Eng- 

 land, wild pigeons are said to have 

 appeared so freely as to suggest the re- 

 generation of a species supposed by 

 many to have become nearly extinct. 

 In times not yet really remote they 

 were familiar as visiting their favorite 

 haunts in prodigious numbers. Their 

 great "roosts" in northwestern Penn- 

 sylvania, not very far from Buffalo, 

 are well remembered by the old sports- 

 men. Considerable pieces of forest 

 would be literally loaded with the birds, 

 so heavily that large branches of trees 

 w^ould give way under their weight; 

 and their slaughter with guns or cap- 

 ture with nets was the simplest of 

 accomplishments. They were des- 

 troyed by the million; as relentlessly 

 followed up as the wild buffalos on the 

 plains vvere, and apparently with sim- 

 ilar result. The pigeons were seen no 

 more in anything comparing with 

 their former profusion. The popular 

 belief was that they had been killed 

 off. Some inclined to the opinion that 



the instinct of self-preservation had 

 caused them to migrate permanently 

 to some remote part of the world; and 

 this may be true, for stories have been 

 told by travelers of seeing vast flocks 

 of them in the Andes of South Amer- 

 ica. If it is true that wild pigeons are 

 returning to the North in substantial 

 number, every state into which they 

 may come should provide amply by- 

 laws for their protection. — Buffalo 

 Courier. 



June 20, 1904. 



The above clippings are in line with 

 other reports more or less authentic 

 this last season and it would seem 

 possible that these birds are becoming 

 more plentiful. 



If careful observation during the 

 coming season should conflrm this, 

 let us welcome them with careful pro- 

 tection and abstain from a rush for 

 Skins and live Birds, which would be 

 a calamity. 



I know of one pair breeding in Mon- 

 roe county, N. Y., last June. Had I 

 taken them I could not reasonably ex- 

 pect any this year. I am hoping that 

 they escaped and will return three-fold 

 this coming summer. 



We have Laws enough. Too many 

 in this state. As a prominent Game 

 Protector said this last season. "If 

 the people would co-operate to help us 

 enforce half of the existing laws the 

 Birds would be amply protected." 



Publications Received. 



Amateur Naturalist, Vol. 2, No. 1. 



Universal Exchange Magazine, Vol. 

 1, No. 3. 



Bulletin of Dept. of Zoology, Penn., 

 Agri. Dept., Vol. 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. 



"Young Americans," Vol.38, No. 1. 



Wanted. 



A few good illustrated articles on 

 Taxidermy. Descriptions of special 

 features in Case Work with Photo 

 specially wanted. 



Will gij'e 4 years subscription for 

 everj^ article we can use. Address, 

 Editor Oologist, 

 Chili, N. Y. 



