migratory pigeon. 297 
''•oods with my g:iin, on my way to Frankfort, when 
t'jout one o’clock, the piffeous, \yhich 1 had observed 
%ing the greater part of the morning northerly, began 
k) return, in such immense numbers as I never before 
iad witne’sscd. Coming to an opening, by tlie side of 
t creek called the Benson, where I had a more unin- 
terrupted view, ] was astonished at their appearance. 
I'hey were Hying, with great steadiness and rapidity, 
»t a height beyond gunshot, in several strata dei^p, and 
*0 close” to>''ethcr, that, could shot have reached them, 
OUe discharge could not have failed of bringing down 
Several individuals. From right to left, far :is the eye 
eoidd reach, the breadth of this vast procession e.vtended, 
seemin"- every where equally crowded. Curious to 
determine how long this appearance would continue, 
I took out my watch to note the time, and sat down to 
«Wrve them. It was then half past (ine. I sat for 
teoro than an hour, but, instead of a dirauiution ot this 
prodigious procession, it seemed rather to increas^ both 
te numbers and rapidity; and, anxious to remdi FrMk- 
^^'rt before night, I rose and went on. About tour 
*^’tIock ill the afternoon I crossed the KentiicKy riyerj 
the town of Frankfort, at Avhidx time tlie hviug 
^tTent above my liead seemed as numerons and as 
pstensive as ever. Long after this I observed tliein, 
’•I lar"-e bodies, that continued to jiass for si-x or eight 
kiiiiutes, and these again were followed by other 
detached bodies, all moving in the same southeast 
'direction, till after six in the evening. The great breadth 
front which this mighty multitude preserved would 
^ecni to intimate a corresiiouding breadth of their 
'reedini' pl.ace, which, by several gentlemen, who had 
^“tcly pTissed through part of it, was stated to me at 
*'>veral miles. It was said to be in Creeii county, and 
the young began to Hy about the middle of March, 
the iVth of April, forty-nine miles beyond Danville, 
?'>d not fiir from Creen Kiver, 1 crossed this same 
te-eedino- place, where the nests, for more than tliree 
J'iles, spotted every tree; the leaves not being yet out, 
‘ kad a fair prospect of them, and was really astonished 
