THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 237 



Two Wild Pigeons Seen 



The first wild pigeons seen in this vicinity for 

 years, were seen two weeks ago by John Fry, while 

 working at his lime kiln about two miles from town. 



John says, they came flying up the little valley, 

 and perched within gun shot of him. He did not 

 know the law in regard to these birds, and decided 

 not to bother them. It is rarely that you see wild 

 pigeons in the United States, and as there is a nice 

 premium on them, if landed, John would have made 

 quite a sum of money. — McV'eytown, Mifflin County, 

 Democrat, October •29, 191 i. 



Statement of John H. Chalham, Veteran Pigeon 

 Hunter. 



]^Ir. John H. Chatham, of Clinton County, says : 

 ''Some time ago you asked me to give you my ex- 

 periences in pigeon catching, netting, number of 

 eggs laid, and a special single nest that came under my 

 observation. My first experience of netting pigeons, was 

 in 1862, shortly before the battle of Fair Oaks in 

 front of Richmond, was fought. I date it from that 

 time by the constant strain on my mind of my only 

 brother, Jas. P., whom I knew would be in the fight as 

 soon as the battle was started. 



"First, we built the bough house in a field, then 

 went to the woods and cut tw^o spring poles, one we 

 planted in the bough house, and the other about one 

 hundred and fifty feet from it, out in the field. Then . 



