PASSENGER TIGEONS. 97 



for making such hnvoc in their ranks. In the 

 middle of the day, the birds retire to repose and 

 to digest their boot}- among the branches of the 

 neighbouring trees, their crops filled with beech- 

 nuts, acorns, and other Aegetables ; but as soon as 

 the sun sinks below the horizon, and at the very 

 moment when his beams disappear behind the 

 mountains, they fly olf to the common roosting- 

 place, which is sometimes fort}' leagues distant from 

 the place where the}' have spent the day. 



On the banks of the Green Pdver, Kentucky, I 

 saw the most magnificent resting-place I ever met 

 with in the States. It was on the borders of a 

 forest of lofty trees, tall straight trunks shooting out 

 of the soil like arrows. A band of about sixty 

 sportsmen was encamped in the neighbourhood, 

 with ample provisions, both warlike and culinary. 

 Tents were pitched, and two black cooks were hard 

 at work, preparing the mess of these disciples of 

 St. Hubert. Among the rest, were two farmers, 

 who had brought a drove of pigs with them to fatten 

 upon the refuse pigeons, a certain mode of getting 

 them into first-class condition for the market. 

 "When I arrived on the spot, I was amazed at the 

 enormous quantity of pigeons which strewed the 

 ground. Fifteen women were busily employed in 

 plucking, trussing, disembowelling, and packing 

 them in barrels. What amazed me most was, to 

 hear that, although the roosting-place was quite 



