THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 



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in an encampment in a forest, upwards of nine miles in length, 

 and four in breadth, in which there was scarcely a tree, large 

 or small, which was not loaded with their nests. In those 

 parts of England frequented by our common Wood-Pigeons, 

 the well-known rustling and rattling of a host of wings, as a 

 cloud of them rise from some favourite haunt in the wood, 

 will not easily be forgotten ; but this clattering of flapping 

 pinions is nothing when compared to the uprising of these 

 American flights, which is described as an absolute and con- 

 stant roaring, so loud and overpowering, that persons on 

 approaching the wood can with difficulty hear each other 

 speak. Amidst these scenes of apparent bustle and con- 

 fusion, there reigns, notwithstanding, the most perfect 

 regularity and order. The old ones take their turns 

 regularly in feeding their young ; and when any of them 

 are killed upon their nests, others immediately supply their 

 places. 



The Passenger, or Migratory Pigeon. 



It has been said, that they only lay one egg at a time ; but 

 this is not strictly true, many of them laying two. But 



