migkatory pigeon. 
299 
length two hundred and forty miles. Again, supposing 
tliat each square yard of this moving body comprehended 
three pin-eons, the square yards in the whole space, 
ttiultiplied by three, would give two thousand two 
hundred and thirty millions, two hundred mid seventy- 
thousand pig’cons ! — an ainiost iTu oiK't^ivahle multi- 
hide, and yet probably far below the actual aiuount. 
Computing each of these to consume half a pint of mast 
daily, the whole quantity at this rate would equal 
Seventeen millions, four hundred and twenty-four 
thousand bushels per day! Heaven has wisely and 
graciously n-iven to these birds rapidity ot flight and a 
disposition to range over vast uncultivated tracts of the 
earth otherwise they must have perished in the districts 
tvhere they resided, or devoured up the whole produc- 
tions of agriculture, as well as those of the Jorests. 
A few observations on the mode of flight of these 
birds must not he omitted : The aiipearance ot large 
detached bodies of them in the air and the various 
evolutions they display, are stnkinglv picturesque and 
interestin'^. In desceudiu^^ the Ohio by niysclt, in the 
month of February, 1 often rested on my oars to 
t'ontemnlate their aerial manmnvres. A coltinni, eipit 
^1* ten miles in lenjrth, would appear from Kentucky, 
i^igh in air, steerinj^ across to Indiana. The leaders oi 
this great body would sometimes gradually vary their 
Course until it formed a large bend, of more tlian a mile 
>0 diameter, those bcbind tracing the exact route of 
Iheir predecessors. This would continue sometimes 
'ong after both extremities were beyond the reach ot 
sigM • so that the whole, ii itb its glittery uudulations, 
marked a space ou the face of the lieiiveiis resemblmg 
the windings of a vast and iniijestic river. ]A' 'ieu ttus 
hcnd became very great, the birds, as it sensible ot t^ 
hiinceessary circuitous course they were taking, sutl- 
denly cbaiie-ed their direction, so flint what was m 
column before became an immense front, straightening 
aU its indentures, until it swept the heavens in one 
tmst and infinitely extended line. Other lessor bodies 
united with each other as they happened to 
