THE WILD PIGEON. 223 



to their roosting-places, they annually flew up the Valley 

 of the Mississippi, following the river in its windings. 

 In this vicinity, they flew about a mile west of the city, 

 sweeping up and down over the hills and valleys, resem- 

 bling the long tail of a kite, that would be changed into 

 serpentine form by the fitful wind. East of us, drifting 

 rapidly and gracefully over the tops of the willows, oaks, 

 and elms in the bottom-land, they darkened the shores of 

 the western boundary of the State of Illinois. The tall 

 bluffs of Fulton, sloping gently from the south, terminate 

 abruptly at the north, and sink into miles and miles of 

 bottom-lands, islands, and verdant fields; when they 

 reached these bluffs, instead of dropping down and flying 

 over the islands, they crossed the Mississippi River, mean- 

 dered over the bluffs in Iowa, swelling the numbers that 

 had passed over us, and disappeared in their tireless 

 flight. At that time, I lived in Lyons, Iowa, one of the 

 prettiest little cities on the Mississippi River just such a 

 spot as Nature intended for a town, providing it herself 

 with all natural advantages. The hills arose back of us in 

 gradual and lofty grandeur; climbing these hills, and 

 brushing through the thick hazel-brush, we suddenly 

 came unaware on the highest elevation of the hills, and 

 here Nature had dispensed with trees, brush, and vines, 

 and we stepped forth and beheld the most beautiful 

 prairie, of the greenest grass, enlivened and beautified by 

 the whitest daisies, the yellowest buttercups, and the 

 purplest violets. Such was the " Little Prairie. " Com- 

 ing as a man would out of the dense forest, and unexpect- 

 edly stepping into this open land, the heart must be cold 

 indeed that could not appreciate it. This spot was about 

 three-quarters of a mile square, and was a succession of 

 rolling hills; here it was that the hunters congregated 

 from the town and waited for the evening flight. As they 

 lounged around indolently, laughing, chatting, and tell- 



