PASSENGER PIGEON. 
74 
capture of a specimen of the migratory pigeon of 
America, recorded by Professor Fleming to have 
been “ shot while perched on a wall in the neigh- 
bourhood of a pigeon-house at Westhall, in the 
parish ofMonymail, Fifeshire, 1st December, 1825. 
The feathers were quite fresh and entire, like those 
of a wild bird.” * A second specimen is said to have 
been killed in Roxburghshire, but we have not been 
able to trace it. According to Temminck, it occurs 
in a similar stray manner in the northern parts 
of the continent, and it is probable that some of 
these birds may occasionally wander and be taken 
on our islands. 
The Passenger Pigeon is a native of and ranges 
over nearly the whole of the immense continent 
of North America, extending far to the northward. 
It visits the fur countries, f and the district around 
Hudson’s Bay,J but reaches the 53° only in fine 
summers. In warmer parts it extends to the 62°, 
and to the gulf of Mexico. § Its habits in its native 
country are described by W ilson and Audubon, with 
their own spirit and enthusiasm, and will repay the 
perusal ; but extracts, which would do justice to the 
authors, are far too long to be inserted here. In this 
country they have been several times kept in con- 
finement, and seem to thrive well, and not to suffer 
at the period of the spring and fall, as most mi- 
gratory birds do, when detained from their change 
of country at the appointed time. Mr. Audubon, 
* Fleming, Brit. Animals, p. 146. 
f Richardson. J Hutchins. § Yarrell. 
