A PIGEON HUNT ON THE OHIO. 309 



food being the object which keeps them in motion and 

 directs their course. The scarcity in one part determines 

 their movement to another. When there is more than 

 the usual fall of snow in the northern regions, vast flocks 

 make their appearance in the middle states, as in Ohio 

 and Kentucky. This may in some measure account for 

 the overcrowded "roosts" which have been occasionally 

 seen, but which are by no means common. You may live 

 in the west for many years without witnessing a scene 

 such as those described by -Wilson and Audubon, though 

 once or twice every year you may see pigeons enough to 

 astonish you. 



The pigeons at length arrived. It was a bright sunny 

 morning, and yet at intervals the atmosphere was dark- 

 ened, as the vast flock, a mile in breadth by several in 

 length, passed across the canopy. The sound of their 

 wings resembled a strong wind whistling among tree-tops 

 or through the rigging of a ship. We saw that they 

 hovered over the woods, and settled among the tall 

 beeches. 



The hunt was announced, and we set forth, each party 

 taking the direction allotted to it. With each went a 

 number of ladies, and even some of these were armed 

 with light fowling-pieces, determined that the party of 

 their choice should be the victorious one. 



After a short ride, we found ourselves fairly " in tho 



