THE PASSENGER PIGEON KALM AND AUDUBON. 415 



In addition to the kinds already enumerated, they also consume 

 various other seeds and berries of trees and plants which grow in 

 this country. 



The trees above referred to, the seeds and berries of which the 

 pigeons are so fond of, grow in the forests of North America nearly 

 everywhere in great abundance. In a good many places, especially 

 farther inland, oaks, elms, beeches, and the red-flowered maple con- 

 stitute almost alone, with the addition of the walnut tree, the entire 

 forest tract. Thus it will be seen how the all-wise Creator, even in 

 the case of these birds, has so wisely adapted the size of the food sup- 

 ply to the number of mouths to be fed. 



I have also observed that the pigeons have a special fondness 

 for the kind of soil which is much mixed with common salt [alka- 

 line deposits]; this soil serves them as food, as a spice to blend with 

 the food, or for its medical properties, I do not know which. At 

 the salt springs of Onondago [sic], in the tribe of the Iroquois Indians, 

 where the soil is so strongly mixed with salt that the ground during 

 a severe drought becomes entirely covered with it and as white as 

 frost, making it impossible for plants to grow, I noticed with aston- 

 ishment, in the month of August, 1750, how covetous the pigeons 

 were of this kind of soil. The savages in Onondago had built their 

 huts on the sides of this salt field, and here they had erected sloping 

 nets with a cord attachment leading to the huts where they were 

 sitting; when the pigeons arrived in swarms to eat of this salty soil, 

 the savages pulled the cords, inclosing them in the net, and thus at 

 once secured the entire flock. At certain times, when they came in 

 such numbers that the ground could hardly be seen for them, the 

 savages found it more advisable to use a gun, as by a single discharge 

 of birdshot they could sometimes kill as many as 50 or more; and 

 this proved a splendid source of food supply. 



These wild pigeons fly in the same manner as other pigeons; and 

 as soon as they have alighted in a tree or other place they have a 

 habit of making a clapping sound with their wings which, according 

 to some, is a signal for all the others to alight. At times, and when 

 they have had sufficient food, they are quite timid, especially the 

 old birds. Therefore, when one wishes to shoot them it is best to 

 walk to and fro among them, on the ground, as if one did not see 

 them; then they are not so timid, nor do they take wing so soon. 



In the vast forests of Canada they remain to the end of August 

 or beginning of September (new style); i. e., until_the grain has 

 been stored for the winter. A great number, however, remain until 

 late in the autumn, when the first snow begins to fall, which finally 

 drives them all away. As their food mostly consists of acorns, 

 beechnuts, and the seeds and fruits of other trees which become 

 hidden under the snow, they are obliged to leave these places and 



