PASSENGER PIGEON. 205 



great body would sometimes gradually vary their course, until 

 it formed a large bend, of more than a mile in diameter, those 

 behind tracing 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 resem- 

 bling 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 in column before 

 became an immense front, straightening 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 evolu- 

 tion, forming new figures, and varying these as they united 

 or separated, that I never was tired of contemplating 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 reflection 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. As these vast bodies passed over the river 

 near me, the surface of the water, which was before smooth 

 as glass, appeared marked with innumerable dimples, occasioned 

 by the dropping of their dung, resembling the commencement 

 of a shower of large drops of rain or hail. 



Happening to go ashore one charming afternoon, to purchase 

 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 everything around in 

 destruction. The people, observing my surprise, coolly said, 

 "It is only the pigeons;" and, on running out, I beheld a 



