326 PASSENGER PIGEON. 



to a hundred nests may frequently be seen : — I might say a much greater 

 number, were I not anxious, kind reader, that however wonderful my ac- 

 count of the Wild Pigeon is, you may not feel disposed to refer it to the 

 marvellous. The eggs are two in number, of a broadly elliptical form, 

 and pure white. During incubation, the male suppUes the female with 

 food. Indeed, the tenderness and affection displayed by these birds to- 

 wards their mates, are in the highest degree striking. It is a remarkable 

 fact, that each brood generally consists of a male and a female. 



Here again, the tyrant of the creation, man, interferes, disturbing the 

 harmony of this peaceful scene. As the young birds grow up, their ene- 

 mies, armed with axes, reach the spot, to seize and destroy all they can. 

 The trees are feUed, and made to fall in such a way that the cutting of 

 one causes the overthrow of another, or shakes the neighbouring trees so 

 much, that the young Pigeons, or squabs, as they are named, are violent- 

 ly hm-ried to the ground. In this manner also, immense quantities are 

 destroyed. 



The young are fed by the parents in the manner described above ; 

 in other words, the old bird introduces its bill into the mouth of the 

 young one in a transverse manner, or with the back of each mandible 

 opposite the separations of the mandibles of the young bird, and dis- 

 gorges the contents of its crop. As soon as the young birds are able to 

 shift for themselves, they leave their parents, and continue separate un- 

 til they attain maturity. By the end of six months they are capable of 

 reproducing their species. 



The flesh of the Wild Pigeon is of a dark colour, but affords tolera- 

 ble eatino-. That of young birds from the nest is much esteemed. The 

 skin is covered with small white filmy scales. The feathers fall off at the 

 least touch, as has been remarked to be the case in the Carohna Turtle. 

 I have only to add, that this species, hke others of the same genus, im- 

 merses its head up to the eyes while drinking. 



In March 1830, I bought about 350 of these birds in the market of 

 New York, at four cents a piece. IVIost of these I carried alive to Eng- 

 land, and distributed amongst several noblemen, presenting some at the 

 same time to the Zoological Society. 



