46 BIRD PARADISE 



passing upon his rights by other birds. I extend 

 the right hand of fellowship to them always, being 

 well assured that they rank among the well-bred 

 gentlemen of my feathered friends. 



Curious that the bird, which at one time was 

 more plentiful here than all the other species put 

 together, should have been completely exter- 

 minated. The wild or passenger pigeon, as it is 

 sometimes called, has entirely disappeared. I say 

 entirely, but I read that a few of them still exist 

 in the wilds of British America. The last that I 

 saw was in 1882, in the forests of southern 

 Oklahoma. Sixty years ago this bird was so 

 common throughout the settled portions of our 

 country that at times the growing crops were 

 greatly injured by their depredations. I recall 

 the time when they flocked here in vast numbers 

 — the spring and fall flights lasting for several 

 days. At times the immense flocks could be seen 

 in every direction — sometimes darkening the sun 

 as they passed. Wild pigeons, cooked in differ- 

 ent ways, formed the staple food of most of our 

 families for the time being. Many were netted, 

 and kept in some convenient outhouse, where 

 they were fattened and used through the season. 



