V ° L mi VI11 ] Kalm, Wild Pigeons in North America. 61 



They build their nests in high trees, pine trees as well deciduous 

 ones; often as many as 40 or 50 nests are to be found in the 

 same tree. 



Some maintain that they raise two broods of young every sum- 

 mer. 



In places where they nest in abundance the ground is often 

 covered with their droppings to a thickness of one or two feet. 



While these birds are hatching their young, or while the latter 

 are not yet able to fly, the savages or Indians in North America 

 are in the habit of never shooting or killing them, nor of allowing 

 others to do so, pretending that it would be a great pity on their 

 young, which would in that case have to starve to death. Some 

 of the Frenchmen told me that they had set out with the intention 

 of shooting some of them at that season of the year, but that the 

 savages had at first with kindness endeavored to dissuade them 

 from such a purpose, and later added threats to their entreaties 

 when the latter were of no avail. 



In Canada it is almost everywhere the custom for young farm- 

 hands and boys to investigate where the Pigeons have their nests, 

 and as soon as the young are able to fly they are taken from the 

 nest and brought to the farm, where they are afterward kept in 

 suitable quarters and industriously fed, whereupon they are killed 

 and eaten. To make doubly sure that they do not escape, one 

 of their wings is generally cut short so that even in case they do 

 get out, they cannot fly away. Such nestlings have a good appe- 

 tite, thrive comfortably, become quite tame and within a short 

 time, if well taken care of, accumulate so much fat that they 

 afford a most palatable dish. 



For food these Pigeons select the following fruits, which I will 

 name in the order that they mature : 



Seeds of the Red-flowered Maple [Acer]; these mature in Penn- 

 sylvania at the end of May, but somewhat later further North. 



Seeds of the American Elm [Ulmus americana]; these mature in 

 Pennsylvania in the beginning or middle of June, but further north 

 somewhat later. When on our journey through the wilds between 

 Albany and Canada we cut up some of the Pigeons which the 

 French had shot and given us, their crops were generally found to 

 be full of elm-seeds. 



