220 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



eons that they were victims of disease and natural and 

 unnatural enemies until finally the birds were ex- 

 terminated. — W'illiamsport, Pa., "Grit" (Old Home 

 Week Edition). 



Extracts from a Personal Letter from Mr. Eldon 



Dear Col. Shoemaker: 



**>!.** ^i^^ pincers for killing passenger 

 pigeons were invented and used by James V. Bennett. 

 The passenger pigeon picture shows its present mount- 

 ing under an oval covered glass — the window reflection 

 in the picture could not be avoided. The artist can 

 eliminate it in the making of the cut. The bird is in a 

 sealed case, and I did not care to open it. Hence the 

 picture through the glass. I thought to have a picture 

 made of myself and the framed bird, a copy of which 

 will also be sent you. 



The stool pigeon basket is of unusual form — 

 there being no top though the heads and backs of the 

 pigeons could not be injured in their effort to get out, 

 nor could their backs and wing coverts be injured 

 by abrasion while being carried. I just called up by 

 phone, Mr. Frank B. Rynearson, of Huntersville, Pa., 

 from whom I obtained the basket. It was made and 

 used for several years by his father, Mr. Bernet 

 Rynearson, who was a noted pigeon netter at the 

 above named place, where the pigeons nested reg- 

 ularly. The basket is over one hundred years old. 

 This basket I am keeping for you until you return to 

 Restless Oaks, or will be sent direct to some other 



