The Oologist. 



Vol. XXI. No. 5. 



Albion, N. Y., May, 1904. 



Whole No. 202 



The Oologist. 



A Monthly Publication Devoted to 



OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND 



TAXIDERMY. 



FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, 

 ALBION, N. Y. 



ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. 



Correspondence and Items of Interest to the 

 student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited 

 'roin all. 



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Passing of the Passenger Pigeon. 



BY J. W. PRESTON. 



It is a matter for regret when so fine 

 a bird which once was so plentiful as 



to be a feature of the region it frequent- 

 ed becomes so scarce that it is a rarity. 

 I well remember when "Wild Pigeons" 

 were as common as Turtle Doves. Not- 

 oriously gregarious they flew often in 

 vast flocks, which moved over the 

 country, back and forth from feeding 

 ground to roosting place or in the 

 migrations. The movement of these 

 flocks was similar to that of the Ameri- 

 can Golden Plover, yet more swift and 

 with less of that undulating motion. 



I have spent much effort studying 

 the flight of birds, have often 

 timed some of our fleetest species. 

 That denizen of the wooded lakes, the 

 Loon, when coming from a feeding 

 ground will mount up far above the 

 woods, and then from that risky 

 height, with closed wings, dash 

 through space at an incalculable rate 

 of speed, or the Balded Eagle when 

 falling upon its prey attains terrific 

 velocity. But no bird of my acquaint- 

 ance can take its start and accomplish 

 a mile in as little time and with the 

 grace -and ease of the Passenger Pigeon. 

 Every movement begin of that con- 

 stant, watchful alertness and unrest 

 natural to the bird. 



One who has seen the movements of 

 these birds in spring and autumn 

 fights will not forget the elegant ease 

 of motion and the grand sweep when 

 they circled round and over a grove, 

 into the depths of which they plunged 

 soon to emerge and whirl again and 

 again before alighting in the top of 

 some large tree. Then while contending 

 for a choice perch, they would contin- 

 ually be changing position and fight- 

 ing each other, making little excur- 

 sions from the main flock only to 



