Vol. XXVIII 1 



1911 



Kalm, Wild Pigeons in North America. Do 



tion of Audubon Societies for preparation of the colored plates 

 of the Passenger Pigeon and Mourning Dove. It is to be hoped 

 that renewed effort for another year may result in what may be 

 generally considered an adequate search of the continent for 

 Edopistcs migratorius. 



Clark University, Worcester, Mass. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE WILD PIGEONS WHICH VISIT 



THE SOUTHERN ENGLISH COLONIES IN NORTH 



AMERICA, DURING CERTAIN YEARS, IN 



INCREDIBLE MULTITUDES. 



BY PEHR KALM. 1 



Translated by S. M. Gronberger. 



In North America there is a species of wild Pigeons which, 

 coming from the upper part of the country, visits Pennsylvania 

 and others of the Southern English settlements during some 

 years, and in marvelous multitudes. 



They have, however, already been described and exceedingly 

 well illustrated in lively colors by the two great ornithologists 

 and matchless masters of bird-drawing, Catesby and Edwards; 

 but as I have had occasion to notice with regard to the description 

 proper and especially as regards the living habits of these Pigeons 

 various things which these gentlemen have either left entirely 

 unmentioned, or which at their places of residence they have not 

 been able properly to ascertain, it is my desire to deliver a short 

 account of this subject before the Royal Academy of Sciences, 

 using the notes from my American Diary. 



The names given by ornithologists to these Pigeons are as 

 follows : 



1 Translated from Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar, for ar 1759, 

 Vol. XX, Stockholm, 1759. 



See also explanatory comment by Dr. Theodore Gill respecting this account of 

 the Passenger Pigeon by Kalm, under ' General Notes ' (postea p. 110V— Edd. 



