The Passenger Pigeon. 53 



lasted. When the birds were shot at, they would fly from 

 one end of the woods to the other, and many of them were 

 killed. 



For several years in succession a great flock came to the 

 Elatchley woods in the north end of Avondale (now called 

 Rose Hill), where I have bagged as many as I could carry. 

 This was always in April and early May. By late May they 

 were gone. Their method of feeding in the beech woods was 

 very interesting and peculiar. I have seen a large flock fly 

 down onto the ground to glean for beechnuts, those in the rear 

 continually flying over those ahead, so that the mass looked at 

 a distance as though they were rolling over the ground. 



All mast, such as beechnuts and acorns, were picked up, 

 none in sight escaped, and were swallowed whole. I have 

 often been surprised at the large acorns these birds were able 

 to swallow. The bill and throat were very elastic and could 

 be widely stretched. I have shot birds that had the crop so 

 distended with these nuts as to be nearly as large as an orange, 

 and I have taken the nuts out, washed and eaten them. 



When the birds were intent on feeding was a favorable 

 time to slip up within shotgun range, which could be done by 

 hiding behind a tree trunk, but if one bird took alarm and flew 

 up, the entire flock was sure to follow. 



Some of the birds nested in the great woods (growing at 

 that time) west of Mill Creek, opposite to what is now Elm- 

 wood Place. I have shot squabs two-thirds grown that had 

 been hatched there, as late as the year 1875. The pigeons 

 that nested in these woods were not numerous and much scat- 

 tered over the woods. They usually made their nests high up 

 in the tallest trees. 



As a food bird the old ones were not very good, being rather 

 dry and tough, though well flavored, but the younger ones were 

 excellent. 



In this woods (then called Este's Woods) I have shot 

 young pigeons in September, nearly one-half grown, that had 



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