OF NEW ENGLAND. 383 
‘‘A few observations on the mode of flight of these birds 
must not be omitted. The appearance of large detached bodies 
of them in the air, and the various evolutions they display, are 
strikingly picturesque and interesting. In descending the Ohio 
by myself in the month of February, I often rested on my oars 
to contemplate their aerial manceuvres. A column, eight or 
ten miles in length, would appear from Kentucky, high in air, 
steering across to Indiana. The leaders of this great body 
would sometimes gradually vary their course, until it formed a 
large bend of more than a mile in diameter, those behind trac- 
ing the exact route of their predecessors: This would continue 
sometimes long after both extremities were beyond the reach 
of sight, so that the whole with its glittery undulations, marked 
a space on the face of the heavens resembling the windings of 
a vast and majestic river. When this bend became very great, 
the birds, as if sensible of the unnecessary circuitous course 
they were taking, suddenly changed their direction, so that 
what was before in column became an immense front, straight- 
ening all its indentures, until it swept the heavens in one vast 
and infinitely extended line. Other lesser bodies also united 
with each other, as they happened to approach, with such ease 
and elegance of evolution, forming new figures, and varying 
these as they united or separated that I was never tired of con- 
templating them. Sometimes a Hawk would make a sweep on 
a particular part of the column, from a great height, when, 
almost as quick as lightning, that part shot downwards out of © 
the common track ; but soon rising again, continued advancing 
at the same height as before; this inflection was continued by 
those behind, who on arriving at this point dived down, almost 
perpendicularly, to a great depth, and rising followed the exact 
path of those that went before. * * *,” 
‘* Happening to go ashore one charming afternoon, to pur- 
chase some milk at a house that stood near the river, and while 
talking with the people within doors, I was suddenly struck 
with astonishment at a loud rushing roar, succeeded by instant 
darkness, which, on the first moment, I took for a tornado 
about to overwhelm the house and every thing around in de- 
