CHAPTER III 

 The Passenger Pigeon 



From " Ornithological Biography," by John James Audubon 



THE Passenger Pigeon, or, as it is usually named 

 in America, the Wild Pigeon, moves with ex- 

 treme rapidity, propelling itself by quickly 

 repeated flaps of the wings, which it brings more or less 

 near to the body, according to the degree of velocity 

 which is required. Like the domestic pigeon, it often 

 flies, during the love season, in a circling manner, sup- 

 porting itself with both wings angularly elevated, in 

 which position it keeps them until it is about to alight. 

 Now and then, during these circular flights, the tips 

 of the primary quills of each wing are made to strike 

 against each other, producing a smart rap, which may 

 be heard at a distance of thirty or forty yards. Before 

 alighting, the wild pigeon, like the Carolina parrot and 

 a few other species of birds, breaks the force of its 

 flight by repeated flappings, as if apprehensive of re- 

 ceiving injury from coming too suddenly into contact 

 with the branch or the spot of ground on which it 

 intends to settle. 



I have commenced my description of this species with 



2S 



