THE PASSENGER PIGEON—-KALM AND AUDUBON. 415 
In addition to the kinds already enumerated, they also consume 
various other seeds and berries of trees and plants which erow in 
this country. 
The trees above referred to, the seeds and berries of which the 
pigeons are so fond of, grow in the forests of North America nearly 
everywhere in great abundance. In a good many places, especially 
farther inland, oaks, elms, beeches, and the red-flowered maple con- 
stitute almost alone, with the addition of the walnut tree, the entire 
forest tract. Thus it will be seen how the all-wise Creator, even in 
the case of these birds, has so wisely adapted the size of the food sup- 
ply to the number of mouths to be fed. 
IT have also observed that the pigeons have a special fondness 
for the kind of soil which is much mixed with common salt [alka- 
line deposits]; this soil serves them as food, as a spice to blend with 
the food, or for its medical properties, I do not know which. At 
the salt springs of Onondago [sic], in the tribe of the Iroquois Indians, 
where the soil is so strongly mixed with salt that the ground during 
a severe drought becomes entirely covered with it and as white as 
frost, making it impossible for plants to grow, I noticed with aston- 
ishment, in the month of August, 1750, how covetous the pigeons 
were of this kind of soil. . The savages in Onondago had built their 
huts on the sides of this salt field, and here they had erected sloping 
nets with a cord attachment leading to the huts where they were 
sitting; when the pigeons arrived in swarms to eat of this salty soil, 
the savages pulled the cords, inclosing them in the net, and thus at 
once secured the entire flock. At certain times, when they came in 
such numbers that the ground could hardly be seen for them, the 
savages found it more advisable to use a gun, as by a single discharge 
of birdshot they could sometimes kill as many as 50 or more; and 
this proved a splendid source of food supply. 
These wild pigeons fly in the same manner as other pigeons; and 
as soon as they have alighted in a tree or other place they have a 
habit of making a clapping sound with their wings which, according 
to some, is a signal for all the others to alight. At times, and when 
they have had sufficient food, they are quite timid, especially the 
old birds. Therefore, when one wishes to shoot them it is best to 
walk to and fro among them, on the ground, as if one did not see 
them;-then they are not so timid, nor do they take wing so soon. 
In the vast forests of Canada they remain to the end of August 
or beginning of September (new style); i. e., until the grain has 
been stored for the winter. A great number, however, remain until 
late in the autumn, when the first snow begins to fall, which finally 
drives them all away. As their food mostly consists of acorns, 
beechnuts, and the seeds and fruits of other trees which become 
hidden under the snow, they are obliged to leave these places and 
