WILD PIGEON. 



241 



oons have arrived on their breeding grounds in the beech- wood, the birds will return south, 

 Jind at such times they seem to be in a great huny, but I have known them to stoi) when 

 i:omp(>lle(l by hunger. On such an occasion, a small flock alighted in our orchard, when 

 we scattered some food on a space of ground. The Pigeons readily went to feeding, then 

 left, and in a short time, returned, accompanied by a large number of others, and we caught 

 .some three hundred under a lath frame. Single pairs, a dozen, or several dozens of the 

 Wild Pigeons will sometimes nest anywhere in the mountains and pairs can be observed 

 flying very swiftly back and forth from the mountains to the Sus(|uehanna River, especi- 

 ally in the morning and evening. Several years ago, I noticed a small flock staying late 

 in spring, about the same vicinity, within sight of the city; later in the summer, during a 

 warm day in June, I noticed a small flock of females resting among the hendocks in a 

 swamp and probably the nudes were sitting on the nests while the females were enjoying 

 themselves. One of our neighbors, a very truthful man and enthusiastic Pigeon-catcher, 

 has told me that when netting these birds, in Clearfield County, during the breeding sea- 

 son, not far from the breeding grounds, he caught all IVniMles one part of the day and all 

 males the other part. 



"During August, I have met with these Pigeons by twos and threes on the mountain- 

 tops, eating huckleberries. I have killed the young on the raspberry bushes and have also 

 seen them eating cherries from the cherry-tree. During September, the Wild Pigeon.s 

 feed a great deal on green acorns, later in the month, on gumberries, and early mornings, 

 especially when foggy and damp, they may be observed on high gum-trees which grow at 

 the foot of the mountains. They sit near the top of the tree and generally close together, 

 their l)ills resting on their breasts and their feathers puffed out, apparently without a mo- 

 tion; at such timc'^, these birds may, with caution, be approached very closely- but should 

 the Pigeons have the slightest suspicion of one's approach, they will give a note of alarm, 

 sourhling something like a laugh made with a child's trumpet; this same note is occasion- 

 ally used when not in danger. When frightened, they will dart with great velocity from 

 the limbs, by far surpassing Wilson's Snipe in the twisting motion, and should the hunter 

 be an instant too late, he will be obliged to look elsewhere for his pot-pie, as the many birds 

 will not alight again within sight. At this season, autumn. Hocks or small parties may bo 

 observed in the river bottoms, on warm afternoons, resting quietly among shady trees; at 

 such times, they may be quite easily approached." 



I am also greatly indebted to my life-long friend, Mr. Edward IT. Bi)W(n-s, wIki has 

 always been a close observer of birds, for the following valuabl(> notes. 



"Observations made in Benzie County, Michigan, IVom 1870 to 1880, show that the 

 Wild Pigeons visit this section every alternate year. Tlic binls breed in the valley of tlic 

 Betsey River and these nesting places occupy several square miles of country. The Pig- 

 eons usually make tlieir appeai'ance the first of March and begin to baild early in April 

 if the season will permit. They prefer deciduous woods in whicli U) Itrecd and from ten to 

 twenty nests are j)laced on a tree. 



"At the head of Fraidcfort Harbor which is formed by the widened mouth of the Bct- 

 sev River, is an extensive marsli, at the liead of whicli, in the cedar tiinl)er, i< an op(>n space 



