PASSENGER PIGEON.— Ecfopistes mii/ratorivs. 



After professing his belief that the chief object of the migi-ation is the searcli after food ; 

 and that the bii-ds having devoiired all the nutriment in one part of the country take 

 wing in order to feed on the beech-mast of another region, "Wilson proceeds to describe 

 a breeding-place seen by himself in Kentucky, wliich was several miles in breadth, was 

 said to be nearly fortj- miles in length, and in which every tree was absolutely loaded 

 with nests. All the smaller branches were destroyed by the birds, many of the large 

 limbs were broken off and thrown on the ground, while no few of the gi-and forest-trees 

 themselves were killed as surely as if the axe had been employed for their destraction. 

 The Pigeons had arrived about the tenth of April, and left it by the end of May. 



" As soon as the young were fully grown, and before they left the nests, numerous 

 parties of the inhabitants, froru all parts of the adjacent country, came with waggons, 

 oxen, beds, cooking utensils, many of theiu accompanied by the greater part of their 

 families, and encamped for several days at this immense nursery. Several of them 

 informed rae that the noise in the woods was so gi'eat as to terrify their horses, and that it 

 was diliicult for one person to hear another speak without bawling in his eai'. 

 2. p p 



