I20 



The Passenger Pigeon 



feeding mornings and evenings on the sprouted beech 

 nuts under the leaves. 



There would often be a third appearance in Sep- 

 tember, when I have seen buckwheat fields blue with 

 them. Also fall-sowed wheat fields would be so covered 

 with them that the farmer had to watch his fields to 

 save the seed he had sowed. 



During the spring and also the fall visit, flocks 

 searching for feeding ground could be called down 

 from flight and induced to light on trees near where the 

 call was sounded. The call was one in imitation of 

 the pigeon's own call, given either as a peculiar throat 

 sound (liable to make the throat sore if too often re- 

 peated) or with a silk band between two blocks of 

 wood, like this 



The pigeon caQ 



held between the lips and teeth and blown like a blade 

 of grass between the thumbs. By biting or pressing 

 with the teeth at (A) (A) the tension upon the silk 

 band would be increased, raising the tone of the call or 

 relaxing for a lower note. Cleverly used, it was very 

 successful in calling pigeons feeding in small flocks to 

 alight. 



