CHAPTER XXX. 



FLIGHT OF PIGEONS 



Frank Kiess Owns Net in Which He Caught 

 Hundreds of Birds 



James A. Bennett, Pigeoneer 



Methods of Netting Described by }klen Who Actually 



Caught and Sold Birds — Charles PI. Eldon, 



Taxidermist, Has Interesting Display 



FLIGHTS of wild pigeons that almost obscured the 

 sun are recalled by the display of a large net, a 

 stool, hubs, baskets and other equipment used by the 

 pigeoneers in the days when the netting of pigeons was 

 a business as the raising of squabs today. Manv of the 

 older residents of W'illiamsport recall the flights of the 

 birds and not a few followed the business of trapping 

 them back in the '70's. They were caught frequently 

 in the hills four miles north of tlie city, and in the 

 \\'arrensville section. Today there is only one wild 

 pigeon in existance, and she is in ca|)tivity in the Cin- 

 cinnati Zoological Garden.' having l)een captured in 

 1876. Charles H. Eldon has the last wild pigeon killed 

 in this section. It was shot near Linden, October 5, 

 1890, and shows the typical plumage of th.e species. 



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