124 COLUMBID^E. 



egg at a time, for there are generally two birds in each 

 nest, which are also said to be male and female ; but even 

 with this increased proportion of young their numbers 

 appear extraordinary, when it is remembered that they 

 have as many enemies to contend with as the quail, 

 which has a nest of twenty eggs, or the wild-turkey, 

 with a brood of fifteen, both which birds are rather on 

 the decrease than otherwise. Wilson,* who describes 

 some of the breeding places in the States as being forty 

 miles in extent, with every tree killed, the ground 

 covered deep with their dung, and all grass and 

 underwood destroyed, says, " As soon as the young 

 birds are fully grown, and before they leave the nests, 

 numerous parties of the inhabitants from all parts of 

 the adjacent country come with waggons, axes, beds, 

 and cooking utensils, many of them accompanied by 

 the greater part of their families, and encamp for several 

 days at these immense nurseries. The noise in the 

 woods i.e., from the pigeons is so great as to terrify 

 their horses, and it is difficult for one person to hear 

 another speak without bawling in his ear. The ground 

 is strewed with broken limbs of trees, eggs, arid young 

 squab pigeons precipitated from above, and on which 

 herds of hogs fatten. Hawks, buzzards, and eagles sail 



* American Ornithology. 



