1911 J Bright, Early Records of the Passenger Pigeon. 445 



This was proved by shooting them at their roost of a morning when 

 their eraws were empty, and then shooting them again in the 

 evening when they returned. Their eraws were then found filled 

 with rice, and it was computed that the nearest rice-field could 

 not be within a less distance than eighty miles. I have often seen 

 pigeons roosts in the older states, but they scarcely give an idea 

 of one in the west. I have seen a cloud of those birds cover the 

 horizon in every direction, and consume an hour in passing. And 

 near a roost, from an hour before sunset until nine or ten o'clock 

 at night, there is one continued roar, resembling that of a distant 

 waterfall. A roost frequently comprises one hundred acres of 

 land; and strange, though literally true, as can be attested by 

 thousands, the timber, even though it be of the largest growth, 

 is so split and broken by the immense numbers which roost upon 

 it, as to be rendered entirely useless. There are few persons hardy 

 enough to venture in a roost at night. The constant breaking 

 of the trees renders it extremely dangerous; and besides there is 

 no necessity for shooting the birds, as the mere breaking of the 

 limbs kills many more than are taken away. A pigeon roost in 

 the west resembles very much a section of country over which 

 has passed a violent hurricane. Wolves, foxes, etc., are constant 

 attendants upon a pigeon roost." 



In Ohio, Caleb Atwater says: * "The wild pigeon comes in the 

 spring, sometimes in March, or even earlier, on his journey north, 

 and after paying us a visit, of about a month, passes on his journey. 

 In September he returns to see us again, spending six weeks with 

 us, feasting on the pigeon berry, phytolacca decandra, the new 

 acorns, and other nuts, and such food as the country produces for 

 his use. Formerly the pigeons tarried here all summer, building 

 their nests, and rearing their young; but the country is too well 

 settled for them now; so, like the trapper for beaver, and the 

 hunter, they are off into the distant forests, where their food is 

 abundant, and where there is none to disturb them in their lawful 

 pursuits." 



Upon Lake Michigan Jas. H. Lanman records : 2 " During 



1 Atwater, Caleb. A History of the State of Ohio. 2nd edit., Cincinnati, 

 1838, pp. 93, 94. 



2 Lanman, Jas. H. History of Michigan, etc.. New York, 1839, p. 278. 



