Recollections of the Passenger Pigeon in Captivity 9$ 



confinement, for it is certain that the species could have been thus saved 

 from extinction. 



As an aviary bird, it would have been a favorite, on account of its beauty 

 and its marked individuality. Constant close association with a bird in the 

 aviary gives one a kind of intimate acquaintance with it which can seldom, 

 if ever, be gained by observation of wild birds. And for such study at close 

 range the Passenger Pigeon was, and would ever have continued to be, a most 

 interesting subject, for its strongly marked character appeared in every minute 

 detail of its habits, postures, gestures, and voice. 



In another place* I have given a somewhat technical and detailed de- 

 scription of certain habits observed in the captive Ectopistes migratorius. 

 The great account of this species, that by Professor Whitman, remains still 

 to be published in the monograph on Pigeons now being edited by Doctor 

 Riddle. Here, in Bird-Lore, I shall try to portray my clearest recollections 

 of this magnificent bird; I shall add a few facts to those mentioned elsewhere; 

 but I shall endeavor chiefly to convey to the minds of others something of 

 the vivid impression made upon the minds of those who observed the Pas- 

 senger Pigeon in life. 



The distinctive character of the species appeared, as has been said before, 

 in every detail of its postures and movements. Such individuality is in great 

 part impossible to describe, though it is felt unmistakably by everyone who 

 has lived with the birds. Better than any mere description are the accom- 

 panying photographs. In them one can see that, with its long, pointed tail, 

 its graceful, curved neck and head, and its trim, strong body and wings, the 

 Passenger Pigeon was truly elegant. The Ring-Dove, by contrast, seems 

 chubby in form and gross in movement. The Passenger was quick, active, 

 vigorous, and graceful. The elegance of form and posture which shows in these 

 photographs was matched by an elegance of motion in every act of the birds 

 while on the perch or on the wing. 



The Passenger was preeminently a bird of flight. Accordingly, its move- 

 ments on the ground were a little awkward, in contrast to its grace when on 

 the perch or in the air. It indulged often in a grand wing exercise, standing 

 on a high perch and flapping its wings as if flying, now slowly, now power- 

 fully, now leaving the perch to fly up and down the aviary, returning 

 to the perch and again commencing the wing exercise, looking about for 

 somewhere else to fly to. This species thus loved to fly more than did most 

 of the other Pigeons. And though not afraid of men nor properly to be called 

 "wild," it seemed sometimes to wish to escape from the pen and fly into the 

 very sky. 



Extreme powers of flight and extreme gregariousness seem to be the two 

 fundamental traits in the peculiar habits of this species. But as to the latter 

 trait, I did not notice that in the aviary the Passenger Pigeons flocked to- 

 *The Auk, Vol. XXVIII, pp. 408-427, October, ion. 



