396 LAND-BIRDS. 



force of their impetus. If frightened from their roosts (to 

 which they frequently resort several nights in succession), 

 they rise with a loud roar. When on the ground, they inva- 

 riably walk, but with no little grace. Many of their habits 

 may be traced in those of tame Pigeons, and in the appear- 

 ance of a single individual there is often a striking analogy 

 to that of a Hawk. In many places they have become com- 

 paratively rare through the excessive persecution of man, in 

 addition to the raids made upon them by birds of prey. This 

 is eminently the case in New England, where they were once 

 abundant. In summer they are now chiefly confined to the 

 northern and wilder districts, but in winter they may occa- 

 sionally be seen in more southern portions. They are most 

 abundant near Boston as migrants in April and October. 

 There is a low pine wood within the present limits of the city, 

 in which I have known flocks of several hundreds to roost 

 every year, but I have never known them to be disturbed. 

 The Wild Pigeons are still wonderfully numerous in many 

 parts of the Western States, and it was there that Wilson 

 made such observations as can no longer be repeated in any 

 place where I have seen these birds. Though toward the 

 latter end of my work obliged to quote more often than I had 

 hoped would be necessary, I do not hesitate to present to my 

 readers several extracts from Wilson's extremely interesting 

 biography. 



After speaking of their range, he says: "But the most 

 remarkable characteristic of these birds is their associating 

 together, both in their migrations and also during the period 

 of incubation, in such prodigious numbers as almost to sur- 

 pass belief ; and which has no parallel among any other of the 

 feathered tribes, on the face of the earth, with which natu- 

 ralists are acquainted. 



" These migrations appear to be undertaken rather in quest 

 of food, than merely to avoid the cold of the climate ; since 

 we find them lingering in the northern regions around Hud- 

 son's Bay so late as December ; and since their appearance is 

 so casual and irregular ; sometimes not visiting certain dis- 

 tricts for several years in any considerable numbers, while at 



