344 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description Manner* x 



THE PASSENGER PIGEON 



IS about the size of a common pigeon. Iti 

 fcill is black. Round the eyes there is a crimson 

 mark ; and the head, throat, and upper parts of 

 the body, are ash-coloured. The sides of the 

 neck are of a glossy, variable purple. The fore- 

 part of the neck and breast are vinaceous; and 

 the under parts are the same, but paler. The 

 tail is tolerably long. The legs are red, and the 

 claws black. 



These birds visit the different parts of North 

 America, in enormous flocks. In the southern 

 provinces their numbers depend greatly on the 

 mildness or severity of the season ; for in very 

 mild weather few or none of them are to be seen. 

 Actuated by necessity, they change their situa- 

 tions in search of acorns, mast, and berries, 

 tvhich the warmer provinces yield in vast abun- 

 dance. When they alight, the ground is quickly 

 cleared of all esculent fruits; to the great injury 

 of the hop;, and other mast-eating animals. After 

 having devoured eve^y thing that has fallen on 

 the surface, they form themselves into a great 

 perpendicular column ; and fly round the boughs 

 of trees, from top to bottom, beating down the 

 acorns with their wings; and they then, in suc- 

 cession, alight on the earth, and again begin to 

 eat. 



