156 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



were broken off at no great distance from the 

 ground; and the branches of many of the 

 largest and tallest had given way, as if the 

 forest had been swept by a tornado. As the 

 period of their arrival approached, their foes 

 anxiously prepared to seize them. Some were 

 furnished with iron pots containing sulphur, 

 others with torches of pine knots, many with 

 poles, and the rest with guns. The sun went 

 down, but not a pigeon appeared. Every thing 

 was ready, and all eyes Avere gazing on the 

 clear sky, which appeared in glimpses amid the 

 tall trees. Suddenly there burst forth a general 

 cry, ' They are coming!' The noise which they 

 made, while yet distant, reminded me of a hard 

 gale at sea, passing through the rigging of a 

 close-reefed vessel. As the birds arrived, and 

 passed over me, I felt a current of air that 

 surprised me. Thousands were soon knocked 

 down by polemen. The current of birds, how- 

 ever, soon kept increasing. The fires were 

 lighted ; and a most magnificent, as well as ter- 

 rible sight, presented itself The pigeons, com- 

 ing in by thousands, alighted everywhere, one 

 above another, until solid masses, as large as 

 hogsheads, were formed on every tree, in all 

 directions. Here and there, the perches of the 

 birds gave waj^, under their weight, with a 



