THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 6S 



never approve of pigeons flying at large and devouring 

 their grain, fruit and vegetables. Domesticated pi- 

 geons, confined to a place prepared for them, is the only 

 kind that can be profitably maintained in most of our 

 country, as it is now occupied by fields of grain, vine- 

 yards, orchards and gardens which are much more 

 needed, in our present phase of development, than are 

 the flocks that primitive men cherished. When only a 

 few dozen families occupied space as large as a county, 

 there was room for men, animals and birds. The 

 strong then fed upon the weaker which perished from 

 the world, making room for more men and their agri- 

 culture which now feeds them. 



Primitive man found the forest adapted for his 

 home. The trees bore fruit that nourished him, or that 

 fed the birds and the animals which he slew for his 

 food and raiment. They spread over the vast domain, 

 until they became numerous. Then they developed 

 arts by which many could exist, where there had pre- 

 viously been few, and civilized society began its de- 

 velopment. Many former forms became obsolete in the 

 new situations they created. Strong animals became the 

 burden bearers and certain birds were tamed to fur- 

 nish food for a more complex society. Tamed ani- 

 mals provided food and raiment. Those that could not 

 be made ef^cient helpers soon began to fade away and 

 become extinct. The soil was utilized for the vegeta- 

 bles and grain they needed and the trees were de- 

 stroyed to make room for men. Now men are pro- 

 gressing in the epoch of tree cultivation and planting. 



