The Passenger Pigeon 35 



heard it distinctly when three miles distant from the 

 spot. Toward the approach of day, the noise in some 

 measure subsided, long before objects were distinguish- 

 able, the pigeons began to move off in a direction quite 

 different from that in which they had arrived the even- 

 ing before, and at sunrise all that were able to fly had 

 disappeared. The bowlings of the wolves now reached 

 our ears, and the foxes, lynxes, cougars, bears, rac- 

 coons, opossums, and pole-cats were seen sneaking off, 

 whilst eagles and hawks of different species, accom- 

 panied by a crowd of vultures, came to supplant them 

 and enjoy their share of the spoil. 



* It was then that the authors of all this devastation 

 began their entry amongst the dead, the dying and the . 

 mangled. The pigeons were picked up and piled in 

 heaps, until each had as many as he could possibly dis- 

 pose of, when the hogs were let loose to feed on the 

 remainderJ 



frersons unacquainted with these birds might natu- 

 rally conclude that such dreadful havoc would soon put 

 an end to the species. But I have satisfied myself, by 

 long observation, that nothing but the gradual diminu- 

 tion of our forests can accomplish their decrease, as they 

 not Infrequently quadruple their numbers yearly, and 

 always at least double itj In 1805 I saw schooners 

 loaded In bulk with pigeons caught up the Hudson 

 River, coming Into the wharf at New York, when the 

 birds sold for a cent apiece. I knew a man In Penn- 



