8 I'. \SSENGER PIGEON. 



indentures, until it swept the heavens in one vast and infinitely 

 extended line. Other lesser bodies also united with each other, 

 as they happened to approach, with such ease and elegance of 

 evolution, forming new figures, and varying these as they uni- 

 ted or separated, that I was never tired of contemplating them. 

 Sometimes a Hawk would make a sweep on a particular part of 

 the column, from a great height, when almost as quick as light- 

 ning, that part shot downwards out of the common track, but 

 soon rising again, continued advancing at the same height as 

 before, this inflection was continued by those behind, who on 

 arriving at this point, dived down almost perpendicularly, to a 

 great depth, and rising followed the exact path of those that 

 went before. As these vast bodies passed over the river near 

 me, the surface of the water, which was before smooth as glass, 

 appeared marked with innumerable dimples, occasioned by the 

 dropping of their dung, resembling the commencement of a 

 shower of large drops of rain or hail. 



Happening to go ashore one charming afternoon, to purchase 

 some milk at a house that stood near the river, and while talk- 

 ing with the people within doors, I was suddenly struck with 

 astonishment at a loud rushing roar, succeeded by instant dark- 

 ness, which, on the first moment, I took for a tornado about to 

 overwhelm the house, and every thing around in destruction. 

 The people observing my surprise, coolly said, " It is only the 

 Pigeons;" and on running out I beheld a flock, thirty or forty 

 yards in width, sweeping along very low, between the house 

 and the mountain or height that formed the second bank of the 

 river. These continued passing for more than a quarter of an 

 hour, and at length varied their bearing so as to pass over the 

 mountain, behind which they disappeared before the rear came 

 up. 



In the Atlantic states, though they never appear in such un- 

 paralleled multitudes, they are sometimes very numerous; and 

 great havoc is then made amongst them with the gun, the clap- 

 net, and various other implements of destruction. As soon as 

 if is ascertained in a town that the Pigeons are flying numer- 



