52 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. VIII. 



waders generally: these, however, are more properly 

 wanderers, since their visits are always transient, even 

 in countries where an equal temperature and a suffi- 

 ciency of food exist at all seasons. Migratory species, 

 however, occur in every order of the feathered creation ; 

 but it is highly probable that by far the greater number 

 of these, when better known, will be found represent- 

 atives of either natatorial or grallatorial types. The 

 migrations of the swallow family are too well known to 

 require repetition in this place, but those of the pas- 

 senger pigeons of North America (Ectopistes migratoria 

 Sw tJ jig. 71.) are certainly without parallel in this 



class of animals : we shall, therefore, relate their extra- 

 ordinary history in the words of an eye-witness. 



(26'8.) " The passenger pigeon/' observes Wilson, 

 { ' merits a distinguished place in our annals of the 

 feathered tribes. The most remarkable characteristic 

 of these birds is their associating together, both in their 

 migrations, and also during the period of incubation, in 

 such prodigious numbers as almost to surpass belief. 

 These migrations appear to be undertaken rather in 

 quest of food, than merely to avoid cold, since we find 

 them lingering in the northern regions, around Hudson's 

 Bay, so late as December ; and since their appearance 

 is so casual and irregular, sometimes not visiting certain 

 districts, for several years, in any considerable numbers, 

 while at other times they are innumerable. I have 

 witnessed these migrations in the Gennessee country, 

 often in Pennsylvania, and also in various parts of Vir- 

 ginia, with amazement; but all that I had then seen of 



