THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 



141 



my attention ; but I am no farther advanced in the 

 investigation than I was on the first day on which 

 I set out. It is one of the many secrets in the habits 

 of birds, which will, perhaps, be for ever concealed 

 from our view. 



THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 



" Towards the approach of day, the noise in some measure 

 subsided ; long before objects were distinguishable, the pigeons 

 began to move off in a direction quite different from that in 

 which they had arrived the evening before ; and, at sunrise, 

 all that were able to fly had disappeared. The bowlings of 

 the wolves now reached our ears, and the foxes, lynxes, cou- 

 gars, bears, raccoons, opossums, and polecats were seen sneak- 

 ing off*." {^Biography of Birds, by Audubon, p. 325.) 



" Variarum monstra ferarum ! " Virgil. 



Mr. Audubon may boast of a sight never before 

 seen by mortal eyes under similar circumstances. 

 Great indeed must have been the yearning for 

 pigeon flesh, to have caused such a variety of wild 

 animals to assemble there ; and irresistible the 

 flavour which induced them to tarry so long be- 

 yond their wonted time of prowling. Their very 

 nature seems to have been changed. Their re- 

 maining at the pigeon-slaughter till the time of 

 sunrise is a most wonderful circumstance, which de- 

 mands investigation on the part of naturalists ; for, 

 hitherto, all these wild beasts which Mr. Audubon 



