70 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



useful. Being of large appetite they swallow the nut- 

 meg together with the mace, but only the mace is subject 

 to digestion, the nutmeg passing through the system 

 with reproductive powers uninjured; they are also im- 

 proved by the sojourn in the pigeon's body, which 

 seems necessary to cause them to grow, for they must 

 have chemical treatment, when planted by human 

 hands, before they will take root from the seeds. In 

 color this bird is as follows : The forehead, cheeks 

 and throat are grayish-white, and the rest of the head 

 and the back of the neck are gray with a slaty-blue 

 wash. The back and upper portions of the body are 

 light metallic green. The lower part of the throat and 

 the breast are rusty gray ; the thighs and abdomen are 

 deep brownish-red. The under surface of the tail is 

 green with a reddish gloss. The adult bird is fifteen 

 inches long. 



In a similar manner, passenger pigeons dissemin- 

 ated the seeds of the black cherry tree and many other 

 wild fruits by dropping the pits of each variety, 

 throughout the forests in this country, wherever they 

 sojourneyed in the season for each; and also cran- 

 berries and the other native wild fruits. The beech- 

 tree was brought to dififerent localities through their 

 agency. 



On the west slope of the Rocky Mountains^ the 

 Band-tailed Pigeons, rColtmibia fasciata), were num- 

 erous, and they are a handsome species, about the size 

 of domestic pigeons, with similar habits. Their colors 

 are ash above, inclining to olive tints on the back, with 



