JUNE 
199 
peared thus dull and inert. In Say's American Entomo- 
logy it is spoken of as a rarity : he says^ During the re- 
cent journey of Major Long's party to the source of the St. 
Peter's river, I obtained three individuals of this interesting 
species^ the only one yet found in North America. They 
occurred in a small forest of scattered trees^ where we halted 
at our dining hour^ in the immediate vicinity of Wennabea's 
Sauk village on the Pecktannos. None were observed at 
any subsequent period of the journey." Say's figure is 
rather smaller than our specimens. 
C. — What birds are those flying so swiftly in a small 
flock? 
F, — That is the celebrated Passenger Pigeon ( Columba 
Migratoria ), and the first flock I have seen this year. They 
do not appear to make their migrations^ as birds in general 
do, to avoid ungenial seasons^ but to obtain in abundance 
that food which is most suited to their wants : hence their 
appearances are very uncertain as to time. They are com- 
