144 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



a direction quite different from that in which they had ar- 

 rived the evening before, and at sunrise all that were able 

 to fly had disappeared." Wilson tells us that when the 

 Pigeons have frequented an extent of forest for some time, 

 all the tender grass and underwood is destroyed; the 

 surface strewed with large limbs of trees, broken down 

 by the weight of the birds ; and the trees themselves, for 

 thousands of acres, are killed as completely as if destroyed 

 with an axe. The breeding-places of these Pigeons are even 

 more extensive than their temporary roosting-places, and 

 present, in the season of the young birds, scenes not less 

 impressive than that recently described. Wot far from 

 Shelby Villa, in Kentucky, "Wilson informs us, one of these 

 pigeonries extended through the woods forty miles in length 

 and several in breadth. As soon as the young were grown, 

 and before they left their nests, numerous parties came to 

 this spot, ' ' a-pigeoning," as they called it. They came 

 with waggons, axes, beds, cooking utensils, and encamped 

 for several days. The noise of the Pigeons in the woods 

 was so great as to terrify the horses; and it was difficult for 

 one person to hear another without bawling. The ground 

 was strewed over with eggs and young Pigeons, on which 

 herds of hogs were fattening. Hawks, Buzzards, and Eagles, 



