PASSENGER PIGEON. 203 



this I observed them in large bodies, that continued to pass 

 for six or eight minutes, and these again were followed by 

 other detached bodies, all moving in the same south-east direc- 

 tion, till after six in the evening. The great breadth of front 

 which this mighty multitude preserved would seem to intimate 

 a corresponding breadth of their breeding place, which, by 

 several gentlemen, who had lately passed through part of it, 

 was stated to me at several miles. It was said to be in Green 

 county, and that the young began to fly about the middle of 

 March. On the 17th of April, forty-nine miles beyond Dan- 

 ville, and not far from Green Kiver, I crossed this same breed- 

 ing place, where the nests, for more than three miles, spotted 

 every tree : the leaves not being yet out, I had a fair prospect 

 of them, and was really astonished at their numbers. A few 

 bodies of pigeons lingered yet in different parts of the woods, 

 the roaring of whose wings was heard in various quarters 

 around me. 



All accounts agree in stating that each nest contains only 

 one young squab. These are so extremely fat, that the Indians, 

 and many of the whites, are accustomed to melt down the fat 

 for domestic purposes as a substitute for butter and lard. At 

 the time they leave the nest, they are nearly as heavy as the 

 old ones, but become much leaner after they are turned out 

 to shift for themselves. 



It is universally asserted in the western countries, that the 

 pigeons, though they have only one young at a time, breed 

 thrice, and sometimes four times, in the same season: the 

 circumstances already mentioned render this highly probable. 

 It is also worthy of observation, that this takes place during 

 that period when acorns, beech nuts, &c, are scattered about 

 in the greatest abundance, and mellowed by the frost. But 

 they are not confined to these alone, — buckwheat, hempseed, 

 Indian-corn, hollyberries, hackberries, huckleberries, and many 

 others, furnish them with abundance at almost all seasons. 

 The acorns of the live oak are also eagerly sought after by 

 these birds, and rice has been frequently found in individuals 



