BIRDS OF 



found in the backwoods in Southern Ontario where they 

 probably breed, but the rising generation of sportsmen can have 

 but inadequate conceptions of the vast flocks of pigeons which 

 used in former years to pass over Hamilton. 



They were annually looked for in April the first who 

 observed them circulated the news, " The Pigeons are flying," 

 and early in the morning a regular fusilade was heard all along 

 the edge of the mountain, where at daylight the gunners had 

 taken up their stand at such points as the flocks were likely to 

 pass. These annual migrations seemed to attain their 

 maximum in 1854, " the year of the cholera." During that 

 season, from the middle of April till the end of June, flocks could 

 be seen in every hour of every day passing to the west. The 

 summer was unusually warm, and as the heat increased the 

 birds seemed weak and languid with scarcely enough energy 

 left to rise above the houses. Vast numbers were killed, till, 

 fortunately for the birds, a rumor got abroad that eating too 

 many pigeons caused the cholera, after which they were 

 allowed to pass on their way unmolested. 



After that year the flocks rapidly decreased in number, till at 

 present the annual migrations have entirely ceased. 



The food of the species consists chiefly of beech nuts, wild 

 berries, and seeds of different kinds. These disappear as the 

 country comes more under cultivation, and the pigeons seek 

 the less settled districts, in search of their favorite fare. At 

 present we hear of them being exceedingly abundant in the 

 valley of the Upper Missisippi, and being quite hardy, they 

 probably extend up north into the " Great Lone Land." 



Those who wish to see such flocks of pigeons as used to 

 pass over Ontario will have to follow them there, as, in all 

 probability, they will never be seen here again. 



GENUS ZENAIDURA BONAPARTE. 



129. ZENAIDURA MACROURA (LINN.). 316. 



Mourning Dove. 



Brownish-olive, glossed with blue on the crown and nape ; below 

 purplish-red, becoming tawny white on the vent and crissum ; neck metallic- 



132 



