THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 141] 
my attention; but I am no farther advanced in the 
investigation than I was on the first day on which 
Iset out. Itis one of the many secrets in the habits 
of birds, which will, perhaps, be for ever concealed 
from our. view. 
THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 
** Towarps the approach of day, the noise in some measure 
subsided ; long before objects were distinguishable, the pigeons 
began to move off in a direction quite different from that in 
which they had arrived the evening before; and, at sunrise, 
all that were able to fly had disappeared. The howlings of 
the wolves now reached our ears, and the foxes, lynxes, cou- 
gars, bears, raccoons, opossums, and polecats were seen sneak- 
ing off.” (Biography of Birds, by Audubon, p. 325.) 
“ Variarum monstra ferarum!” Virgil. 
Mr. Audubon may boast of a sight never before 
seen by mortal eyes under similar circumstances. 
Great indeed must have been the yearning for 
pigeon flesh, to have caused such a variety of wild 
animals to assemble there; and irresistible the 
flavour which induced them to tarry so long be- 
yond their wonted time of prowling. Their very 
nature seems to have been changed. Their re- 
maining at the pigeon-slaughter till the time of 
sunrise is a most wonderful circumstance, which 
demands investigation on the part of naturalists; for, 
hitherto, all these wild beasts which Mr. Audubon 
