PIGEON. 97 



inch shorter, the same in colour, but only whitish at the end ; the 

 two next four inches and a half long, the exterior only four inches ; 

 these have also the ends white; the last white the whole length of 

 the outer web, and all of them, except the two middle, have a black 

 mark on the inner web, about two inches from their insertion ; legs 

 red. The female is somewhat smaller, and the colours less vivid. 



Inhabits North America, chiefly between 20 and 60 degrees of 

 latitude; breeding in the more northern, and retiring towards the 

 southern provinces, at the approach of winter. Is called by the 

 Europeans at Moose Fort and Severn River, Wood Pigeon, and 

 Passenger Pigeon ; by the natives Memewuck. They build in trees, 

 and are extremely good eating. It can scarcely be conceived in 

 what prodigious flocks they are seen in their passage from one part 

 to the other ; often in strings of two miles in length, and a quarter in 

 breadth ; and during their flight over any place, quite darken the 

 air; frequently alight on trees, and sometimes in such vast numbers, 

 as to break down moderately strong branches. The people of Phila- 

 delphia shoot them from the tops of their houses ; and in New England 

 knock them down from their roosting places in the evening, which is 

 not difficult to do, as they are very tame at the time, or much fatigued ; 

 and the common people during flight time chiefly subsist on them.* 

 Their food consists of acorns,f or mast of all kinds, but they will 

 destroy corn, rice, peas, and other seeds, to the great detriment of 

 the farmers; they will also feed on juniper, and other berries; but 

 not when better food can be obtained. Often do vast damage in 



* They have also another way of taking them in Louisiana. A party of five or six goes 

 in the evening into the woods, having several flat dishes, with brimstone, which is set on 

 fire, under such trees as the birds roost on ; the fume of which so stupifies them, as to cause 

 their fall to the ground, and several sacks have at times been filled with these birds : in this 

 they are often accompanied by the Ladies, who esteem it an agreeable evening's amusement; 

 independent of the stupefaction by brimstone, the}' are frequently confounded by a sudden 

 blaze of light of pine splinters, and multitudes are killed by sticks. 



f Very fond of the sweet, small acorns of the Quercus aquatica, Sempervirens, Flam- 

 mula, and others, which induce these birds to migrate into such parts, as these trees are 

 found in. — Bar tram. 



vol. viii. O 



