172 Hodge, A Last Word on the Passenger Pigeon. LApril 



that we took for granted that they were the old pigeons .... The boys 

 on the farm killed a few and had them in the pot before I knew it. I never 

 heard of mourning doves going in such large flocks, 800 to 1,000. (This 

 was in the fall when there were many young pigeons.) I presume the birds 

 will be back here next season and I assure you we will investigate them." 



James Finch (83 years old). 



There is no reason to suppose that this widely migratory species 

 would return to any particular locality to nest, and I have not 

 heard from Mr. Finch again. I was unable to secure any feathers 

 by which to identify the birds which were killed. 



From another letter dated Apr. 3, 191 1 : Arcadia, Ind. 



"On March 28th last about 100 passenger pigeons were seen to pass 

 over my father and I about 50 feet above our heads. My father having 

 seen them by the thousands several years ago can firmly swear that they 

 were passenger pigeons. They came from the southwest and were last 

 seen flying northeast. (The time was given in a subsequent letter as 

 3 p. M.) 



"We live in Hamilton Co. about 28 miles north of IndianapoHs." 



(signed) Harry Noble. 



The following is quoted from a copy of a letter forwarded to me 

 by Dr. A. K. Fisher. 



Davidson, Mich., May 30, 1911. 



"It may be of interest to you to know that I saw a flight of between 

 50 and 100 wild pigeons — the so called passenger pigeon — E. migratoris, 

 1 think you scientists name them. 



I was in the Northeast corner of Burton Township, Genesee County, 

 Michigan, at the time. A small boy with me cried out "O see the geese, 

 no ducks." I looked up and there they were, less than 300 feet over head, 

 in the irregular constantly shifting formation, I remember so well. I saw 

 millions of them when a boy, tens of thousands of flocks and shot not a few. 

 There can be no mistaking them. They flew swiftly, almost due north 

 while over head, but shifting westward at short intervals and disappeared 

 flying almost due northwest. 



I have not seen one before in more than forty years as nearly as I can 

 recall." (Signed) Ernest Hollenbeck. 



Mr. Ben Fagg finds the Pigeons after he failed to show them to 

 Mr. Mitchell and writes him as follows: 



Algoma, Wis., Sept. 23, 1911. 

 Prof. I. N. Mitchell, 

 Milwaukee, Wis. 

 Dear Professor: Pardon for delay in reply to your letter of Aug. 14. 

 Had relinquished my position on the Record for the sole purpose of looking 



