28 THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 



same evolutions which had been traced as it were in the air by a preceding 

 flock. Thus, should a Hawk have charged on a group at a certain spot, the 

 angles, curves, and undulations that have been described by the birds, in 

 their efforts to escape from the dreaded talons of the plunderer, are unde- 

 viatingly followed by the next group that comes up. Should the bystander 

 happen to witness one of these affrays, and, struck with the rapidity and 

 elegance of the motions exhibited, feel desirous of seeing them repeated, his 

 wishes will be gratified if he only remain in the place until the next group 

 comes up. 



As soon as the Pigeons discover a sufficiency of food to entice them to 

 alight, they fly around in circles, reviewing the country below. During 

 their evolutions, on such occasions, the dense mass which they form exhibits 

 a beautiful appearance, as it changes its direction, now displaying a glisten- 

 ing sheet of azure, when the backs of the birds come simultaneously into 

 view, and anon, suddenly presenting a mass of rich deep purple. They then 

 pass lower, over the woods, and for a moment are lost among the foliage, but 

 again emerge, and are seen gliding aloft. They now alight, but the next 

 moment, as if suddenly alarmed, they take to wing, producing by the flap- 

 pings of their wing a noise like the roar of distant thunder, and sweep 

 through the forests to see if danger is near. Hunger, however, soon brings 

 them to the ground. When alighted, they are seen industriously throwing 

 up the withered leaves in quest of the fallen mast. The rear ranks are 

 continually rising, passing over the main-body, and alighting in front, in 

 such rapid succession, that the whole flock seems still on wing. The 

 quantity of ground thus swept is astonishing, and so completely has it been 

 cleared, that the gleaner who might follow in their rear would find his labour 

 completely lost. Whilst feeding, their avidity is at times so great that in 

 attempting to swallow a large acorn or nut, they are seen gasping for a long 

 while, as if in the agonies of suffocation. 



On such occasions, when the woods are filled with these Pigeons, they are 

 killed in immense numbers, although no apparent diminution ensues. About 

 the middle of the day, after their repast is finished, they settle on the trees, 

 to enjoy rest, and digest their food. On the ground they walk with ease, as 

 well as on the branches, frequently jerking their beautiful tail, and moving 

 the neck backwards and forwards in the most graceful manner. As the sun 

 begins to sink beneath the horizon, they depart en masse for the roosting- 

 place, which not unfrequently is hundreds of miles distant, as has been 

 ascertained by persons who have kept an account of their arrivals and 

 departures. 



Let us now, kind reader, inspect their place of nightly rendezvous. One 

 of these curious roosting-places, on the banks of the Green river in Kentucky, 



