40 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



from the ground, and the branches of many of the 

 largest and tallest had given way, as if the forest had 

 been swept by a tornado. Everything proved to me 

 that the nmnber of birds resorting to that part of the 

 torest must be immense beyond conception. 



"As the period of their arrival approached their 

 foes anxiously prepared to receive them; some were 

 furnished with iron pots containing sulphur, others 

 with torches of pine-knots; many with poles and the 

 rest with guns. The sun was lost lo our view, yet not 

 a pigeon had arrived. Everything was ready and all 

 eyes were gazing on the clear sky, which appeared in 

 glimpses amidst the tall trees. Suddenly there burst 

 forth a general cry of 'Here they come!' The noise 

 which they made, though yet distant, reminded one of 

 a hard gale at sea, passing through the rigging of a 

 close-reefed vessel. 



'*As the birds arrived and passed over me I felt 

 a current of air that surprised me. Thousands were 

 soon knocked down by the pole-me?', ; the birds con- 

 tinued to pour in ; the fires were lighted and a most 

 magnificent as well as wonderful and almost terrifying 

 sight presented itself, the pigeons arriving by thou- 

 sands, alighting everywhere, one al)ove another, until 

 solid masses as large as hogsheads were formed on the 

 branches all round. Here and there the perches gave 

 way with a crash and, falling on the ground, destroyed 

 hundreds of birds beneath, forcing down the dense 

 groups with which every stick was loaded. It was a 

 scene of uproar and confusion. No cne dared venture 



