THE PIGEON. 81 



The Creator has endowed these birds with a won- 

 derful rapidity of flight, so that they are enabled to 

 wander over immense tracts of country in a short time. 

 Were this not the case, they must starve, since no 

 small extent of country could supply them with food 

 ven for a short time. 



Mr. Wilson estimates their flight to be a mile in a 

 minute, and no man was better able to judge on such 

 a subject than himself. A mile in a minute, would 

 make seven hundred and twenty miles in twelve hours, 

 or one day, a rate of travelling about ten times as great 

 as that at which our mail coaches ordinarily run. 

 We see, therefore, that in the space of a few days, 

 these birds could explore all parts of our western ter- 

 ritory in search of food. 



In the New England States, though these birds nev- 

 er appear in such immense numbers, still they are 

 sometimes very numerous. 



In Connecticut, and the other Atlantic States, great 

 numbers of them are every year taken in what are 

 called clap nets, and carried to market, in all the large 

 towns. Many persors during the autumnal months, 

 make it their business to tend these nets, and carry 

 their produce to market. During particular seasons, 

 these birds are caught in such abundance, that they 

 will sell for only two or three pence each. At such 

 times, they are shut up in coops and fattened on corn, 

 and kept until they can be sold for a greater price. 

 By being fed in this manner, their flesh is much im- 

 proved, and they commonly sell for a price which well 

 repays for the trouble and expense of fattening them. 



