The Passenger Pigeon. 55 



for the woods; but the domestic bird, when Hberated under 

 similar circumstances, made for the nearest building. 



Those birds that were fortunate enough to escape at the 

 trap, had to run the gauntlet of boys and others who shot them 

 when they flew out of bounds, so that few escaped. The wild 

 pigeon was a much more difficult bird to shoot on the wing 

 than the domestic one. 



I have seen the birds sell, when in danger of spoiling, as 

 low as 25 cents per dozen in Cincinnati market, but 50 cents 

 to $1.00 per dozen was the usual price. All kinds of game 

 was plenty and cheap in those days. Wild ducks and geese 

 were so abundant at times that they were a drug on the market, 

 and could be bought very cheaply. 



Cone &.Barr. the pigeon trappers, when in Cincinnati, made 

 headquarters at J. B. Owing's game store, which at that time 

 was on the south side of Fifth Street, opposite where the 

 Government Building now stands. 



When the Zoological Garden opened, in 1875, they had a 

 fine bunch of wild pigeons — about 22 birds. Gradually these 

 have died, one by one, until now but two veritable patriarchs 

 remain. At first a few were reared in the garden, but as the 

 birds became older, though they made nests and laid a few 

 eggs, none were hatched, as the eggs were no longer fertile. 

 During the last twenty years I have heard rumors of the 

 return of the wild pigeons, but whenever I have investigated 

 these stories, have found them without foundation, generally 

 referring to another bird. A few scattered bunches may yet 

 be alive. I hope it is so. About eight specimens are all I 

 have preserved, for at that time of abundance I did not think 

 it possible that such a vast myriad could have been extermin- 

 ated during my lifetime. The eight that were saved are : 

 three in my own collection, three in the Cuvier Club's, and two 

 al the Museum of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 

 Color, form and habits considered, the Passenger Pigeon was 

 the most remarkable of the pigeon tribe. The Audubon plate 

 of this exquisite bird is exceedingly beautiful and lifelike. The 



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