KEENNESS OF SIGHT. 79 



as each bird daily consumes a quarter of a bushel of seeds 

 or fruits, the daily nourishment of a single band would 

 not require less than one hundred million, seven hundred 

 and eighty thousand bushels. Allowing for some exaggera- 

 tion in these figures, the truth remains sufficiently formid- 

 able. 



The American pigeons, besides their faculty of flight, — 

 which surpasses that of any other bird, — are endowed, in 

 a very remarkable degTee, with the gift of sight. They do 

 not need to pause for the purpose of exploring the district 

 over which they wing their way, and discovering whether 

 it possesses their favourite seeds and fruits. Sometimes 

 you will see them mount to a great elevation, and extend 

 their battalions on every side : they are then engaged in 

 reconnoitring the ground. Sometimes they close up in a 

 compact body, descend towards the earth, and seem to con- 

 sult with one another : be sure that they are satisfied with 

 the outlook before them, and that they have alighted on a 

 fertile feeding-ground. 



Everything in the structure of this bird — its nervous 

 wings, its bifurcated tail, and its oval-shaped body — indi- 

 cates the power of sustaining a rapid and prolonged flight 

 and continuous respiration. Such an organization might 

 seem incompatible with tenderness of flesh ; but, on the 

 contrary, the passenger pigeon is relished as a dainty all 

 over America, and every man's hand is against it. 



