126 



TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS 



conjectured from certain observations. The roost was in 

 a portion of the forest where the trees were of great mag- 

 nitude. It was more than forty miles in length, and av- 

 eraged three in breadth. It had been occupied as a roost 

 about a fortnight when he visited it. The dung was several 

 inches deep on the ground. Many trees had been broken 

 down by their weight, as well as many branches of the 

 largest and tallest trees. The forest seemed as if it had 

 been swept by a tornado. Everything gave evidence that 

 the number of birds resorting to that part of the forest 

 must be immense. A large number of persons collected 

 before sunset to destroy them, provided with torches of 

 pine knots, and armed with long poles and guns. The 

 Pigeons began to collect after sunset, their approach pre- 

 ceded, even when they were at a distance, by a noise like 

 that of a hard gale at sea sounding in the rigging of a 

 vessel. As the birds passed over him, they created a 

 strong current of air. The birds arrived by thousands, 

 fires were alighted, and the work of destruction com- 

 menced. Many were knocked down by the pole men. In 

 many cases they collected in such solid masses on tlio 

 branches that several of their perches gave way and fell 

 to the ground, in this way destroying .hundreds of the 

 birds beneath them. It was a scene of great confusion 

 and continued until past midnight, the Pigeons still con- 

 tinuing to arrive. The sound made by the birds at the 

 roost could be heard at the distance of three miles. As 

 day approached, the noise in some measure subsided ; and 

 long before objects were distinguishable the Pigeons began 

 to move off, and before daylight all that were able to fly 

 had disappeared. The dead and wounded birds were then 



