304 A PIGEON HUNT ON THE OHIO. 



In the male the colors are deeper, and the neck feathers 

 present the same changeable hues >of green, gold, and 

 purple-crimson, generally observed in birds of this spe- 

 cies. It is only in the woods, and when freshly caught 

 or killed, that these brilliant tints can be seen to perfec- 

 tion. They fade in captivity, and immediately after the 

 bird has been shot. They seem to form part of its life 

 and liberty, and disappear when it is robbed of either. I 

 have often thrust the wild pigeon, freshly killed, into my 

 game-bag, glittering like an opal. I have drawn it forth 

 a few hours after, of a dull leaden hue, and altogether 

 unlike the same bird. As with all birds of this tribe, the 

 female is inferior to the male, both in size and plumage. 

 The eye is less vivid. In the male it is of the most bril- 

 liant fiery orange, inclosed in a well-defined circle of red 

 skin. The eye is in truth its finest feature, and never 

 fails to strike the beholder with admiration. 



The most singular fact in the natural history of the 

 "passenger," is their countless numbers. Audubon saw 

 a flock that contained " one billion one hundred and six- 

 teen millions of birds." Wilson counted, or rather com- 

 puted, another flock of " two thousand two hundred and 

 thirty millions!" These numbers seem incredible. I 

 have doubt of their truth. I have no doubt they are 

 under rather than over the numbers actually seen by both 

 these naturalists, for both made most liberal allowances 



