302 A PIGEON HUNT ON THE OHIO. 



their appearance, but were looked for every hour. The 

 woods had assumed the gorgeous tints of autumn, that 

 liveliest of seasons in the "far west." Already the ripe 

 nuts and berries were scattered profusely over the earth, 

 offering their annual banquet to God's wild creatures. 

 The mast of the beach tree (fagus Sylvatica] of which 

 the wild pigeon is so fond was showering down among 

 the dead leaves. It was the very season at which the 

 birds were accustomed to visit the beechen woods that 

 girdled the colonel's plantation. They would no doubt 

 soon appear. With this expectation every thing was 

 made ready ; each of the gentlemen was provided with a 

 fowling-piece, or rifle, if he preferred it ; and even some 

 of the ladies insisted upon being armed. 



To render the sport more exciting, our host had estab- 

 lished certain regulations. They were as follows : The 

 gentlemen were divided into two parties, of equal num- 

 bers. These were to go in opposite directions, the ladies 

 upon the first day of the hunt accompanying whichever 

 they chose. Upon all succeeding days however, the 

 case would be different. The ladies were to accompany 

 that party which upon the day previous had lagged the 

 greatest number of birds. The victorious gentlemen, 

 moreover, were endowed with other privileges which 

 lasted throughout the evening such as the choice of 

 partners for the dinner table and the dance. 



