i< PASSENGER PIGEON. 



capture of a specimen of the migratory pigeon of 

 America, recorded by Professor Fleming to have 

 been " shot while perched on a wall in the neigh- 

 bourhood of a pigeon-house at Westhall, in the 

 parish of Monymail, Fifeshire, 1st December, 1825. 

 The feathers were quite fresh and entire, like those 

 of a wild bird." * A second specimen is said to have 

 been killed in Roxburghshire, but we have not been 

 able to trace it. According to Temminck, it occurs 

 in' a similar stray manner in the northern parts 

 of the continent, and it is probable that some of 

 these birds may occasionally wander and be taken 

 on our islands. 



The Passenger Pigeon is a native of and ranges 

 over nearly the whole of the immense continent 

 of North America, extending far to the northward. 

 It visits the fur countries,")" and the district around 

 Hudson's Bay,J but reaches the 53 only in fine 

 summers. In warmer parts it extends to the 62, 

 and to the gulf of Mexico. Its habits in its native 

 country are described by Wilson and Audubon, with 

 their own spirit and enthusiasm, and will repay the 

 perusal; but extracts, which would do justice to the 

 authors, are far too long to be inserted here. In this 

 country they have been several times kept in con- 

 finement, and seem to thrive well, and not to suffer 

 at the period of the spring and fall, as most mi- 

 gratory birds do, when detained from their change 

 of country at the appointed time. Mr. Audubon, 



* Fleming, Brit. Animals, p. 146. 

 f Richardson. Hutchins. Yarrell. 



