34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



in 1878 when I shot a young bird with pin feathers— I think not 

 later than the fifteenth, for I well recall my surprise at getting a 

 Pigeon so early, and I still think that it must have been bred 

 in one of our eastern counties. 



The proper time to expect Pigeons in our locality was the 

 first cool spell of weather in September, especially after a heavy 

 storm if none had been seen before. The first clear cool morn- 

 ing after the fall equinox we could expect them with absolute 

 certainty. I well recall our preparations on a clearing night. 

 How carefully we loaded the old muzzle-loader with number 

 six shot and planned for the coming morning; how eagerly we 

 awaited the sunrise from a neighboring hill top, carefully scan- 

 ning the horizon for a glimpse of the splendid birds! And when 

 they appeared how all eyes would follow them with a view to 

 locating their stopping place, for unless the feeding ground was 

 located, the chance for a pot-pie was remote indeed. 



The Pigeons' stay in these parts was a comparatively short 

 one, and I might say that from September 10 to October 10 

 they could be looked for at any moment, while from the latter 

 date up to and including the first week of November they were 

 occasionally seen, but with rare exceptions only single birds. 

 I recall three occasions when I shot single birds in November, 

 and in each case they were feeding on the ground under oak 

 and dogwood trees. I know of others shooting single birds 

 under similar conditions, one in 1883 and another as late as 

 1886, and this I feel pretty certain was the last Pigeon ever 

 taken in these parts. It was shot by John S. Murray with a 

 twenty-two calibre rifle one mile north of Radnor Station on the 

 Pennsylvania Railroad, 



While as I have said it was the exception to see Pigeons as 

 late as November, nevertheless the largest flock I ever saw was 

 in early November 1877 or 1878, following a heavy rainstorm. 

 The birds were flying along in a northerly direction, high in the 

 air in extended order and probably numbered three hundred in- 

 dividuals. Occasionally in March we saw Pigeons also. In 

 March 1867, when the ground was still white with snow and a 

 heavy sleet covered the trees, a fine bunch of Pigeons settled 

 upon a tall Buttonwood that stood close to our door. As a 



