I 
V 
: E PE diim or to build its nest in a 
2nd one, but | simply by the necessity of going 
where food abounds, because no small supply will 
satisfy the appetite of such immense numbers. 
Having powers of vision equal to their power of 
flight, they can easily take a survey of the country 
over which they àre passing ; if they determine to 
descend, they break the force of their motion by 
repeated flappings of their wings, to keep themselves 
from being injured by dashing upon the ground. 
So swiftly do they move over an immense extent of 
country, that they have been killed. near New York, 
with their crops full of rice from South Carolina 
plantations. In the Atlantic states, their numbers 
are nothing compared to the countless multitudes 
which assemble in the west, where, as they pass 
over, the rush and roar seem like those of a tornado, 
darkening all the sky. But their numbers, though 
reduced from those of former times, are still consid- 
erable, and as soon as it is known in a neighbor- 
hood that the pigeons are flying over, it is the signal 
for assembling all the arts and instruments of de- 
struction. Many are shot with the gun; many are 
taken with nets; and others are decoyed by pigeons 
with their eyes blinded, which are stationed on a 
roost, provided for the purpose; the roost being 
shaken with a string, these pigeons open their wings 
to balance themselves ; and the wayfarers, supposing 
that they have just alighted, after examining the re- 
gion, think it safe to come down and join them 
without farther investigation. 
VOL. III.—NO. I—II. 
