176 The Passenger Pigeon 



less likelihood of my theory being the correct one, 

 though my inquiries in Forest and Stream elicited 

 one very circumstantial account of an enormous de- 

 struction of pigeons on the Gulf Coast, the birds being 

 blown into the Gulf and destroyed by a fierce "norther" 

 which beat down the coast for two or three days. Per- 

 sons familiar with this phenomena of the Texas 

 "norther" need no help to their imaginations in seeing 

 how a pigeon flight, being caught on the shores of the 

 Gulf by such a wind could be practically destroyed. 



I do not know that you will think my theory worth 

 any consideration, but I have finally interested a number 

 of ornithologists who share my view that the final and 

 sudden wiping out of the great bulk of the pigeon flight 

 must have been by some cataclysmic agency. It seems 

 to me that the question is one of great interest from 

 the point of view of the naturalist and biologist, and 

 well worth serious investigation by all who care for 

 these things. I shall be pleased to know if what I have 

 said seems to you of interest and to have any weight. 



Wishing you all success in your admirable under- 

 taking, and anticipating with great pleasure the results 

 of your studies in your proposed book, I am, 



Yours very truly, 



C. H. Ames. 



