136 NATURxYL AND CIVIL 



chlcily in tlic more northern, and northeasterly 

 parts of America. In those parts they produce 

 their young-, and are to L>e found in the rivers 

 and harbours, in immense numbers. In No- 

 T'cmber they come in large flocks from the 

 north, and northeast, and pass off to the south- 

 v/cst. In March and April, they return from 

 the southwest in a contra',y direction, and go 

 back to their summer habitation. These fiocks 

 frequently consist of fif^y or sixty : The}' fl^' at a 

 gi'cat height, and appear to observe great regu-, 

 larity in their passage. They sometimes iol- 

 low one another in a straight line, but are more 

 generally drawn up in the form of a wedge ; 

 ar«d appear to be led by one of the strongest, 

 and most active. While they keep together, 

 they seem to understand their course perfectly 

 well ; but if bv anv means their order is bro- 

 ken, and the flock dispersed, several of them 

 "wander out oi-their course, appear to be per- 

 plexed, descend to the earth, and are often kil- 

 led or taken. When tamed, they will join 

 with a floclv of domestic geese ; but at the usu- 

 al times of migration, aie Aery apt to jcin any 

 flock, which approaches near to them, in their 

 passage. 



In the Wild Pice ox, the multiplvine' 

 power of nature acts with g-eat force and vigour. 

 The male and female always pair : they sit 

 alternately upon the eggs, and generally hatch 

 but two at a time ; but this is repeated several 

 times in a season. The accounts "which are 

 given of the number of pigeons in the unculti- 

 vated parts of the country Mill appear almost in-: 

 qr?^i}jlc to those vrho |ic;vc r-ever s?en th^ir 



