232 VERTEBllATA. 



the skies— these were among the siitjgcstivc sounds that stole througli the dim twilight. As raorn- 

 in<t ndvaiK-o.l, the scene was inconceivably beautiful— the mountain sides, clothed in autumnal 

 green and puq.lc and gold, rendered more glowing by the sunrise, with the valleys covered with 

 mists, an.l spreading out like waves of silver; while on every side, the ear was saluted by the 

 mocking screams o^the red-headed woodpecker, the cawing of congresses of crows, clamorous as 

 if Uilking to IJuncombc: and Qnally, the rushing sound of the pigeons, pouring like a tide over 



tho tops of the trees. 



"i'.v this time, of course, our nets were ready, and our flyers and stool-birds on the alert. 

 What moments of ecstasy were these, and, especially, when the head of the flock— some red- 

 breasted old father or grandfather— caught the sight of our pigeons, and turning at the call, drew 

 tho whole train down into our net-bird! I have often seen a hundred or two hundred of these 

 splendid birds come upon us with a noise absolutely deafening, and sweeping the air with a sud- 

 den gust like the breath of a thunder cloud. Sometimes our bush-hut, where we lay concealed, 

 was covered all over with pigeons, and we dared not move a finger as their red, piercing eyes were 

 upon us. AVhen, at last, with a sudden pull of the rope, the net was sprung, and we went out to 

 secure our booty— often fifty, and sometimes even a hundred birds — I felt a fullness of triumph 

 which words are wholly inadequate to express." 



It is a curious fact that several specimens of the passenger pigeon have been met with in Eng- 

 land ; from the extraordinary powers of flight this bird is known to possess, we may conclude 

 that these migrated thither across the Atlantic. 



The American Turtle-Dove, K Carolinensis, is eleven and a half inches long ; above brown- 

 ish-drab, breast pale veinous-olive ; its flight is quick, vigorous, and accompanied by a peculiar 

 whistling of the wings; it feeds on buckwheat, hemp-seed, Indian corn, and various kinds of ber- 

 ries ; it devours large quantities of gravel ; to obtain this it is often seen in the highways. It 

 visits the North in spring, lays two white eggs in a rude nest of sticks, and spends the winter at 

 the South, where it associates in considerable flocks; in New England it is generally seen in 

 pairs. In form it greatly resembles the passenger-pigeon; its flesh is much esteemed. AYilson 

 says : "This is a favorite bird with all those who love to wander among our woods in spring, and 

 listen to their varied harmony. They will there hear many a singular and sprightly performer, 

 but none so mournful as this. The hopeless woe of settled sorrow, swelling the heart of female 

 innocence itself, could not assume tones more sad, more tender and aff"ecting. Its notes are four; 

 the first is somewhat the highest, and preparatory, seeming to be uttered with an inspiration of 

 the breath, as if the afflicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last convulsive sobs 

 of distress ; this is followed by three long, deep, and mournful moanings, that no person of sensi- 

 bility can listen to without sympathy. A pause of a few minutes ensues, and again the solemn 

 voice of sorrow is renewed as before. This is generally heard in the deepest shaded parts of the 

 woods, frequently about noon and toward the evening. There is, however, nothing of real dis- 

 tress in all this; quite the reverse. The bird who utters it wantons by the side of his beloved 

 partner, or invites her by his call to some favorite retired and shady retreat. It is the voice of 

 love, of faithful connubial affection, for which the whole family of doves arc so celebrated ; and, 

 among them all, none more deservingly so than the species now before us." 



THE TREROXID^ OR TREE-PIGEOXS. 



These birds are confined to the warmer parts of the old continent, their principal locations 

 being in India, the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, and Australia. Their nourishment cou- 

 sists, for the most part, of fruits, and they are especially arboreal in their habits. In the form of 

 the bill, however, they present some resemblance to the extinct dodo. Many of them are most 

 beautifully colored, rivaling in this respect the parrots and pheasants. 



THE MENURAS OR LYRE-BIRDS. 



These birds belong to Australia, of which two species are now known, the Menura szijjcrba, de- 

 scribed more than fifty years ago by Davis, and a recently discovered species, described by Mr. 

 Gould under the name of Menura Alberti. The Common Lyre-Bird, Menura superba, has been 



