168 



" Habitat in Canada, hybernat in Carolina," though Linnaeus first quotes 

 " Edwards 15, pi. 15," where an entirely different bird is described and 

 figured. (Cf. Bangs, I.e.) 



The Passenger Pigeon in former times occurred throughout North 

 America in great abundance, from the Atlantic to the great Central Plains, 

 and from the Southern States, where it rarely occurred, north to at least 

 62° northern latitude. Being a migrant, this bird used to migrate southwards 

 after the breeding season, and to return to their homes in spring, but it also 

 shifted its quarters according to the abundance or scarcity of food, 

 like our Pigeons. Sometimes incredible numbers flocked together. Such 

 stupendous flights have been described independently by Audubon, Wilson 

 and others. In 1813 Audubon says that during his whole journey from 

 Hardensburg to Louisville, fifty-five miles, countless masses of Pigeons 

 continued to pass over, and also did so during the three following days. "At 

 times they flew so low, that multitudes were destroyed, and for many days 

 the entire population seemed to eat nothing else but Pigeons." Where they 

 roosted in millions, the dung soon covered the ground and destroyed the 

 grass and undergrowth, limbs and even small trees broke down from the 

 weight of the birds. " One of the breeding places visited by Wilson, not far 

 from Shelbyville, Kentucky, stretched through the forest in nearly a north 

 and south direction. This was several miles in breadth, and upwards of 

 forty miles in extent. In this immense tract nearly every tree was furnished 

 with nests wherever there were branches to accommodate them. He was 

 informed by those who sought to plunder the nests of the squabs, that the 

 noise in the woods was so great as to terrify their horses, and that it was 

 difficult for one person to hear another speak. The ground was strewed 

 with broken limbs, eggs and young Pigeons. Hawks were sailing about in 

 great numbers, while from twenty feet upwards to the tops of the trees 

 there was a perpetual tumult of crowding and fluttering multitudes of 

 Pigeons, their wings resounding like thunder, and mingled with the frequent 

 crash of falling trees In one instance he counted ninety nests in a 

 single tree." 



It is only natural that man took advantage of such vast multitudes, 

 and that they were killed in great numbers, for food, and, maybe, sometimes 

 wantonly destroyed. Yet it is difficult to understand what brought on their 

 total destruction, as their power of flight was great, and their vision remarkably 

 keen. In 1874 Messrs. Baird, Brewer and Ridgway considered them still 

 common birds, though "their abundance in large extents of the country had 



