352 Wright, Early Records of the Passenger Pigeon. [.July 



In 1848 (July 27) Paul Kane, when in the Winnipeg region, 1 

 "found immense flocks of wild pigeons, and killed a good supply." 

 Ten years later, in the same region, Henry Y. Hind noted 2 (June 

 10, 1858): "In a wheat field opposite St. James' Church were 

 several pigeon traps, constructed of nets 20 feet long by 15 broad, 

 stretched upon a frame; one side was propped up by a pole 8 feet 

 long, so that when the birds passed under the net to pick up the 

 grain strewed beneath, a man or boy concealed by the fence with- 

 drew the prop by a string attached to it, and the falling net some- 

 times succeeded in entrapping a score or more of pigeons at one fall. 

 Near the net some dead trees are placed for the pigeons to perch on, 

 and sometimes stuffed birds are used as decoys to attract passing 

 flocks." In three other instances the expedition found these birds. 

 "When west of Blue Hills, June 30, 1858, ' 'Vast numbers of pigeons 

 were flying in a north-westerly direction, . . . . " At Qu'Appelle 

 River, July, 1858, "pigeons were calmly and listlessly perched on 

 the dense trees, having eaten plentifully of their favorite fruits"; 

 and finally, between the South and Main branches of the Saskatche- 

 wan, they recorded the pigeon August 5, 1858. 



In his 'Maple Leaves,' etc. (Quebec, 1863-5), J. M. LeMoine 

 says (p. 96): "Wild pigeon shooting, especially in western Canada, 

 yields an abundant harvest. The passenger pigeon still resorts to 

 the Niagara district in such quantities that Audubon's graphic 

 description of the flights of wild pigeons in Kentucky ceases to 

 appear overdrawn. Until 1S54, there existed in the woods back 

 of Chateauguay, at a place called the Five Points, a pigeon roost; 

 the devastation caused by this countless host in the wheat fields 

 became very great, but in presence of the incessant attacks of man, 

 a general pigeon stampede took place — the roost is now deserted." 



In 1869 Wm. Canniff writes of this species as follows: 3 "Sheriff 

 Sherwood, .... remarks: T recollect seeing pigeons flying in such 

 numbers that they almost darkened the sky, and so low often as 

 to be knocked down with poles; I saw, where a near neighbor 



1 Kane, Paul. Wanderings of an Artist among the Indians of North America 

 from Canada to Vancouver's Island and Oregon, etc. London, 1859, p. 438. 



- Hind, Henry Y. Northwest Territory. Report on the Assiniboine and 

 Saskatchewan Exploring Expedition. Toronto, 1859, pp. 39, 40, 43, 61, 65. 



3 Canniff, Wm. History of the Settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario, etc.). 

 Toronto, 1869, p. 201. 



