PASSENGER PIGEON. 



109 



finitely extended line. Other lesser bodies also united with each 

 other, as they happened to approach, with such ease and elegance 

 of evolution, forming new figures, and varying these as they united 

 or separated, that I was never tired of contemplating them. Some- 

 times a Hawk would make a sweep on a particular part of the co- 

 lumn, 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 in- 

 flection 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 innume- 

 rable dimples, occasioned by the dropping of their dung, resem- 

 bling 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 astonish- 

 ment 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 every thing around in destruction. The people observ- 

 ing my surprise, coolly said " It is only the Pigeons ;" and on run- 

 ning out I beheld a flock, thirty or forty yards in width, sweeping 

 along very low, between the house and the mountain or height that 

 formed the second bank of the river. These continued passing for 

 more than a quarter of an hour, and at length varied their bearing 

 so as to pass over the mountain, behind which they disappeared 

 before the rear came up. 



In the Atlantic states, tho they never appear in such unparal- 

 leled multitudes, they are sometimes very numerous ; and great 

 havoc is then made amongst them with the gun, the clap net, and 

 various other implements of destruction. As soon as it is ascer- 

 tained in a town that the Pigeons are flying numerously in the 

 VOL. V. E e 



