THE PASSENGER PIGEON—-KALM AND AUDUBON. 417 
The great French Admiral Marquis de la Galissoniere, who in 
deep knowledge of various sciences, but especially in natural history 
and its advancement, has had or has very few equals, and who at 
the time of my arrival in Canada occupied the office of Governor 
General of that country, told me that he had once brought with him 
several of these pigeons from Canada to France, and that he had 
allowed them to escape in the French forests. At this time he had 
again collected a great number of live birds which, in the fall of 1749, 
he brought with him to France, inclosed in large cages, in order to 
set them free in the woods upon his safe arrival there, with the 
intention of introducing this handsome as well as useful American 
bird into Europe. 
In addition to the authors referred to above, the following learned 
men have also mentioned something in their writings concerning 
these pigeons: P. de Charlevoix, Histoire de la Nouvelle France, 
vol. 5, pp. 251-252; Salmon’s Modern History, vol. 3, p. 440; Wil- 
lams’s Key into the Language of America, p. 91. Others whose 
works I have not had the opportunity of seeing may also have men- 
tioned something concerning this subject, but they have at least re- 
lated nothing of any particular value. 
II.—THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 
By Joun James AupDUBON (1831).! 
The passenger pigeon, or, as 1t.is usually named in America, the 
wild pigeon, moves with extreme rapidity, propelling itself by quickly 
repeated flaps of the wings, which it brings more or less near to the 
body, according to the degree of velocity which is required. Like the 
damestic pigeon, it often flies, during the love season, in a circling 
manner, supporting itself with both wings angularly elevated, in which 
position it keeps them until it is about to alight. Now and then, 
during these circular flights, the tips of the primary quills of each 
wing are made to strike against each other, producing a smart rap, 
which may be heard at a distance of 30 or 40 yards. Before alighting, 
the wild pigeon, like the Carolina parrot and a few other species of 
birds, breaks the force of its flight by repeated flappings, as if appre- 
hensive of receiving injury from coming too suddenly into contact 
with the branch or the spot of ground on which it intends to settle. - 
I have commenced my description of this species with the above 
account of its flight, because the most important facts connected with 
its habits relate to its migrations. These are entirely owing to the 
necessity of procuring food, and are not performed with the view of 
escaping the severity of a northern latitude, or of seeking a southern 
1 Ornithological Biography, vol. 1, 1831, pp. 319-327, 
38734°—sm 1911——27 
