1'HKIK KCON'OMIC kh:i.AII()i\S I'O Til 1C A( '.U I C I ’ I .T I K I S'l’ 
19 
THE WILD PIGEON. 
A vanished l)ird. Several reports from various localities in 
Minnesota have reached the University of the occurrence of this 
beautiful bird so common years ago, within the confines of the 
state, but these rumors ap]>ear to have arisen either from con- 
fusing the Mourning Dove with this species, or to have l)een 
fakes, pure and sini])le. So far, the reward of $1,000 for a pair of 
these birds nesting has not been claimed. The writer has been, in 
the past, familiar with the ap])earance of the Passenger Pigeon 
at the time when it was extremely abundant in Minnesota and 
must confess to having been startled a few years ago in traveling 
by train from Crookston to Pemidji, at catching a momentary 
glimpse from the car window of two birds in flight amongst the 
trees, wajnderfully resembling in size, color, and shape, the Pas- 
senger Pigeon of yesterday. No opi)ortunity was afiforded, how- 
ever, to prove this and he dismissed the idea as al)surd.* The 
*ln this connection it may be noted that Francis L*. I’almer of Stillwater, 
Minn., a student of birds, claims quite emphatically to have observed one of 
these l)irds on May 31, 1915, near the above named town, which is in the south- 
eastern part of the state. His observations were published in “Bird Bore” for 
.Tuly-Aug'ust. 191.5, page 289. 
