THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 219 



near the net. When the flock appeared to break the 

 stool would be pulled so that the stool pigeon would 

 go through a hovering motion as if it was about to 

 land. Like an arrow, the birds would swerve from 

 their course, breaking in the middle and amid a great 

 fluttering of wings would land on the bed prepared for 

 them. That instant the rope from the bough house 

 would, release the spring poles and the net would be 

 thrown over all the birds within reach. The other 

 birds would fly away in fright, while the men from 

 the bough house would rush out and throw their 

 weight on the net or lay rails on the edge of it to 

 keep the birds within from escaping. The birds were 

 killed by pinching their necks between the thumb and 

 fingers of the pigeoneer. This method proved tire- 

 some in big catches, so Mr. Bennett invented a pair 

 of pinchers which were less cruel and more effective. 

 In these catches it was not unusual to take as many 

 as from 150 to 200 dozen birds These were killed 

 and dressed for market or were smoked and kept for 

 home use. The latest great flight of wild pigeons re- 

 called by Mr. Bennett, was up the Missouri river, in 

 Mlarch, 1883, but after that date there appears to be 

 no record of wild pigeons in great numbers. What 

 became of them is unknown. Some believe they were 

 driven out to sea in a storm and perished, while others 

 insist that the birds still are in Canada and may 

 yet return to their native haunts. However, it is gen- 

 erally assumed among scientists who have made care- 

 ful investigation of the disappearance of the wild pig- 



