348 Wright, Early Records of the Passenger Pigeon. LJuly 



breaking up some crackers, I fed it. My next difficulty was to 

 fall upon some plan for taking it home. It seemed to have sought 

 my protection, and nothing shall cause me to abandon it. On 

 looking around me, the mocock that the Indian woman gave me 

 struck my sight. It was the only thing in the canoe in which it 

 was possible to put it. So I have given it a lodgment in that. 

 It is a wild pigeon, nearly full grown, and is perhaps the only 

 survivor of a flock from Canada. Thousands of them perish in 

 crossing every season, and I am told they are often seen on the 

 lake shore fastened together by their feet, looking like ropes of 

 onions. The lake, in the direction in which this one came, must 

 be at least sixty miles across. 



"This is a member of the dove family, and the 'travelled dove' 

 of the voyage. Is it a messenger of peace? — Why did it pass one 

 canoe, and turn and follow another? — Why come to me? — None 

 of these questions can be answered. But of one thing this poor 

 pigeon is sure — and that is, of my protection; and though only 

 a pigeon, it came to me in distress, and if it be its pleasure, we will 

 never part." In a footnote the writer adds: "This pigeon, called 

 by the Chippeways Me-me, and by which name, it is called, is yet 

 with its preserver — tame, and in all respects domesticated. It 

 knows its name, and will come when called." 



This collection of records is classified according to regions, and 

 the notes are arranged chronologically under each. 



Canada. 



The first country to be considered is naturally Canada, the 

 former home of the breeding pigeon. The account begins with 

 ' The First Relation of Jaques Carthier of S. Malo, 1534' in which 1 

 "stockdoves" are recorded at Cape Kildare. In 1535-36, on the 

 second voyage up the St. Lawrence, he finds: ' 'There are also many 

 sorts of birds, as. . . .Turtles, wilde Pigeons,. ..." fn the same 

 region, in 1542, John Alphonse of Xanctoigne, chief pilot to Rober- 

 val, notes 2 "Fowle .... in abundance, as ... . turtle doves, . . . ." 



1 Original Narratives of Early American History. Early English and French 

 Voyages. New York. 1906, pp. 17, 71. 



2 Hakluyt, Richard. The Principal Navigations Voyages Trafflques and 

 Discoveries of the English Nation. Glasgow, 1903-5. Extra Series, Hakluyt 

 Society, Vol. VIII, p. 282. 



