346 Wright, Early Records of the Passenger Pigeon. [jSfr 



L.Iuly 



OTHER EARLY RECORDS OF THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 



BY ALBERT ELAZEN WRIGHT. 



Since the appearance of the first article, 1 under a similar caption, 

 the author has felt we should strive to assemble all the material 

 extant concerning this extinct or near-extinct species. A syste- 

 matic endeavor has been made to peruse most of the North Ameri- 

 can historical sources (county and town histories omitted) which 

 would presumably yield notes concerning this form. No doubt 

 this supplement will be far from complete from the biological 

 point of view, but this and its predecessor are meant to be side- 

 lights to the customary ornithologic literature from which we have 

 not drawn. Of the period after 18(30, many older ornithologists 

 can speak from personal experience far better than the writer, 

 hence the omission of such material. 



If the laudable quest for survivors of the species prove not 

 forlorn, we trust our boasted humanity will hold the protection 

 of this beautiful bird to be a most sacred trust, — an attitude 

 rarely taken in the day of its abundance. Immediate desires and 

 absolute thoughtlessness reigned supreme so that cases like the 

 temporary insanity of J. B. Booth, the actor, and the extreme 

 solicitation of Thomas L. McKenney, the traveller were unfortu- 

 nately held up to ridicule rather than admiration. 



In the first instance, Booth while acting in Louisville (Jan. 4, 

 1834), wrote James Freeman Clarke 2 asking if he could help him 

 to find "a place of interment for his friend (s) in the church-yard." 

 Clarke went immediately to Booth. Upon inquiries concerning 

 his friend, the actor apparently changed the subject and proceeded 

 to read Coleridge's 'Ancient Mariner,' following this with remarks 

 on Shelley's argument against the use of animal food. Then, he 

 argued his point by "texts selected skillfully here and there from 

 Genesis to Revelation." At last he inquired if Clarke ' 'Would. . . . 

 like to look at the remains?" And, imagine Clarke's surprise 



i Auk, Vol. XXVII, October, 1910, pp. 428-443. 



- Clarke, James Freeman. Memorial and Biographical Sketches. Boston, 

 1878, pp. 263-276. 



