21 o The Passenger Pigeon 



have been the principal means of destruction, but it is 

 almost fair to assert that even with the net and gun 

 under proper restrictions, the pigeon would still be with 

 us in hordes, both spring and autumn. For many years 

 hunters (butchers) used to shoot the birds regularly at 

 their nesting places, while the netters were also found 

 near at hand. 



I have seen many birds taken, by unsportsmanlike 

 netters, for the market during spring migrations, and 

 the published accounts of the destruction by netters is 

 almost beyond belief. Doctor Kirtland states that near 

 Circleville, Ohio, in 1850, there were taken in a single 

 net in one day 1,285 ^i^^ pigeons. 



The Passenger Pigeon was in the habit of crossing the 

 Ohio River by March i in the spring migrations, and 

 I have noted the birds several times in Michigan in 

 February. But this was not usually the case, for the 

 birds were not abundant generally before April i, 

 although no set rule could be laid down regarding their 

 appearance or departure either in spring or fall. They 

 usually came with a mighty rush. Sometimes they did 

 not appear, or, at least, only very sparingly. Their 

 nesting sites would remain the same for years if the 

 birds were unmolested, but they generally had to change 

 every year or two, or as soon as the roostwas discovered 

 by the despicable market netter. 



Where the mighty numbers went to when they left 

 for the south is not accurately stated, and, of course, this. 



