I02 The Passenger Pigeon 



or half-orphans are cared for. It is rare, however, for 

 both old birds to be caught or killed, since the toms 

 and hens when nesting always fly separately, and the 

 chance of both the parents of the squab falling a "victim 

 to Mammon," particularly in a large nesting, is small. 

 As proof of the pigeons feeding squabs indiscriminately, 

 I may mention that one of the men in my employ this 

 year, at the Shelby nesting in 1876, in one afternoon 

 shot and killed six hen pigeons that came to feed the 

 one squab in the same nest. 



Why, Prof. Roney, the catch went on all the same, 

 your party made no difference of note, but the weather 

 was rough and somewhat stormy; the birds didn't 

 "stool" well, and during the days mentioned the catch 

 was very small, hence the decrease in shipments. Now, 

 regarding the law, it is well enough as it is; one shot- 

 gun near a nesting is more destructive than a dozen 

 nets ; the report of the gun causes the birds to rise in 

 thousands, and, when repeated, to leave in a body, 

 regardless of nest or squab, and never to return; as an 

 example, may be mentioned, the Minnesota nesting of 

 1877, when the birds were driven entirely away. 



The net is silent; its work occasions no alarm; it 

 makes no cripples, consequently it can be admitted 

 nearer to the nests than its more noisy partner. Protect 

 the pigeons entirely, and a law forbidding catching dur- 



