Flight, ^c. of Pigeons. 141 



yond the reach of sight, so that the whole, with its glittery undula- 

 tions, marked a space on the face of the heavens resembling the 

 windings of a vast and majestic river. When this bend became 

 very great, the birds, as if sensible of the unnecessary circuitous 

 course they were taking, suddenly changed their direction, so that 

 what was in column before became an immense front, straightening 

 all its indentures, until it swept the heavens in one vast and infinitely 

 extended line. Other lesser bodies also united with each other, as 

 they happened to approach, with such ease and elegance of evolu-r 

 tion, forming new figures, and varying these as they united or sepa- 

 rated, that I was never tired of contemplanng them. Sometimes a 

 hawk would make a sweep on a particular part of the column, from 

 a great height, when, almost as quick as lightning, that part shot 

 downwards out of the common track ; but soon rising again, con- 

 tinued advancing at the same height as before ; this inflection was 

 continued by those behind, who on arriving at this point dived down, 

 almost perpendicularly, to a great depth, and rising followed the ex- 

 act path of those that went before. As these vast bodies passed 

 over the river near me, the surface of the water, which was before 

 smooth as glass, appeared marked with innumerable dimples, occa- 

 sioned by the dropping of their dung, resembling the commence- 

 ment of a shower of large drops of rain or hail. 



Happening to go ashore one charming afternoon, to purchase 

 some milk at a house that stood near the river, and while talking 

 with the people within doors, I was suddenly struck with astonish- 

 ment at a loud rushing roar, succeeded by instant darkness, which, 

 on the first moment, I took for a tornado about to overwhelm the 

 house and every thing around in destruction. The people observ- 

 ing my surprise, coolly said, "It is only the pigeons;" and on run- 

 ning out I beheld a flock, thirty or forty yards in width, sweeping 

 along very low, between the house and the mountain or height that 

 formed the second bank of the river. These continued passing for 

 more than a quarter of an hour, and at length varied their bearing 

 so as to pass over the mountain, behind which they disappeared be- 

 fore the rear came up. 



