190 The Passenger Pigeon 



cital of old pigeon experiences from the old timers, 

 these rumors and theories seem to return to the winds 

 from whence they came. 



The latest theory advanced to me by a correspondent 

 is the possibility of some disturbance of the elements in 

 the shape of a cyclone, or a storm striking a migrating 

 host In crossing the Gulf of Mexico and destroying them 

 almost completely. This is a plausible theory, but I am 

 unable to conceive how such immense hosts of pigeons 

 as are recorded up to 1865 could possibly have met 

 with sudden disaster In this manner, even In the center 

 of the Gulf, without leaving some wreckage to tell the 

 story, and such Is not recorded. While again I do not 

 think that the entire host would cross the Gulf, but that 

 a large portion of the migrating birds would take an 

 overland route through Mexico and Central America 

 to the southern boundary of their flight. Personally I 

 am Inclined to cherish my original contentions that the 

 continued disturbance of the breeding and feeding 

 grounds, both by the slaughter of the birds for market 

 and by the dissipating of the original Immense colonies 

 by the clearing of the hardwood and pine forests of the 

 United States and eastern Canada, compelling these 

 sections of the main column to travel farther In search 

 of congenial environment, curtailing the breeding sea- 

 son, and, I have no doubt, frequently preventing many 

 from breeding for several seasons. 



While the persistent persecution and destruction for 



