DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 27 



where they had been feeding so quietly a moment before, and a 

 confused scramble ensued for standing room. Gradually tense 

 attitudes relaxed, the moment of terror passed, and one by 

 one they dropped to the ground again, the whole phalanx roll- 

 ing toward me as before. Soon they were within thirty-five feet 

 of me, at which distance I terminated our acquaintance by 

 throwing one of my clubs, an action which scattered the birds 

 but failed to kill. 



This flock seemed to represent the climax of abundance of 

 the Wild Pigeons in our neighborhood, for after this they were 

 never so plentiful again. The April of 1882 brought them in 

 small flocks, containing from a half dozen to a hundred and 

 after a month's sojourn with us the majority passed on. The 

 few that remained reared young and stayed the greater part of 

 the summer. During the years 1883, 1884 and 1885, there was 

 a noticeable decrease, in fact they were very scarce, here and 

 there a quiet pair and more often single males, hurtling alone 

 across the once crowded skies. The final passing of the Passen- 

 ger Pigeons occurred for me in 1886 and was made memorable 

 by their appearance once more in unmistakable numbers. 

 Again the hiss of crowding wings was heard overhead and the 

 chatter of greeting flocks ; again that bewildering charge of 

 swiftly-coursing wings was offered to our eyes, but it was 

 destined to be the last pageant, the final review foreshadowing 

 dissolution. They, too, seemed to have premonitions, for be- 

 fore the buds had burst to joyous life, palpitating to the touch 

 of a glorious spring, the fated host had passed, vanishing once 

 and for all over the hills and far away. 



