The Wild Pigeon of North America 59 



toward the northwest part of Van Buren County, 

 Mich. For two days they continued to pour into that 

 vicinity from all directions, commencing at once to build 

 their nests. I talked with an old trapper who lived 

 on the brooding grounds, and he assured me that the 

 first pigeons he had seen that season were on the day 

 they commenced nesting and that he had lived there 

 fifteen years and never known them to nest there 

 before. 



From the above instance and hundreds of others I 

 might mention, it is well established in my mind beyond 

 a reasonable doubt, that these birds, as well as many 

 other animals, have communicated to them by some 

 means unknown to us, a knowledge of distant places, 

 and of one another when separated, and that they act 

 on such knowledge with just as much certainty as if 

 It were conveyed to them by ear or eye. Hence we 

 conclude It Is possible that the Great Spirit In His 

 wisdom has provided them a means to receive electric 

 communications from distant places and with one an- 

 other. 



