158 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



Pigeons of the East once darkened the sky for 



hours in their flight, and broke, with their weight, 



the limbs of trees upon hundreds of acres of 



forests. The bird is now comparatively rare. 



The reason for this fearful, cruel, and wasteful 



destruction, was largely the habits of the birds 



in living the year around in one immense colony, 



thus falling an easy prey to men who lived by 



their capture and death. It is said that the 



Band-tailed Pigeons nest in something like small 



colonies, remain together in moderate-sized flocks 



after the nesting-season, are sometimes seen in 



numbers innumerable, and are often slaughtered 



by the score. Let the people of the Northwest 



have a care, before it is too late. 



Particular Description. — As above, in general 

 description ; with white collar on back of neck ; tail, 

 square, with a black band one-third from the end. 



» 



Summer resident. 



VAUX'S SWIFT. 



General Description : 



On the wing, appears to be black, with short tail 

 and long wings. It has a rapid flight, and is 

 to be seen on cloudy days and near nightfall. 



Length, a little more than 4 inches. 



