180 The Wilson Bulletin — No. G5. 



On, April 17th, 49 miles beyond Danville, in Green County, 

 the most extensive breeding ground of the Passenger Pigeon 

 in the State was penetrated for three miles. The trees, chiefly 

 beech, were loaded with nests, and the length of the colony 

 said to be over forty miles ! Wilson does some figuring of the 

 total number of individuals of this species seen on the entire 

 trip and places it at 2,230,272,000 ! Quite interesting in view 

 ofi the fact that the bird is now in all probability practically 

 extinct. Lodging near the banks of the Green river, they 

 crossed the Little Barren on the afternoon of the following day. 

 Here the whole country began to assume a new and vei*y singu- 

 lar appearance ; the woods which hitherto had been stately, 

 now degenerated into mere scrubby saplings and the earth was 

 covered with rich vendure, interspersed with a variety of very 

 beautiful flowers ; and the enormous caverns of Warren 

 county especially astonished Wilson. After being ferried over 

 Big Barren river, and fifteen miles beyond Bowling Green, 

 he was induced by the novel character of the country to bid fare- 

 well to his Psalm-singing friend, and tarry for five days at the 

 house of a pious and worthy Presbyterian, who charged him 

 nothing and would have gladly kept him a month for the draw- 

 ing lessons he gave the daughters. Making excursions in all 

 directions, he added the Prairie Warbler to his list of new birds, 

 and here found the Whippoorwill more numerous than in any 

 other part of the country. Once more taking to the saddle and 

 crossing the Red river, he found no more "barrens," but as he 

 entered Tennessee, the face of the country became hilly and 

 even mountainous. Coursing along the rich valley of Mansker's 

 creek, near the Cumberland river, he stopped at a small tavern 

 kept by Isaac Walton ; and here quite probably, added the 

 Tennessee and Nashville Warblers to our fauna, as well as 

 figuring the female of his already described Cerulean Warbler 

 as another nondescript. When he departed, the landlord, a 

 most worthy namesake of that great disciple of the gentle art 

 of fishing; refused to accept anything for his fare, saying: 

 "You seem to be traveling for the good of the world ; and I 

 cannot, I will not charge you anything. Whenever you come 



