PASSENGER PIGEON. 
3 
as this kind of food is digested by them entirely in twelve 
"'ours, they must have travelled probably three or four hundred 
miles in about the half of that time, or have sped at the rate of 
2- mile in a minute. With a velocity like this, our Pigeon might 
visit the shores of Europe in less than three days ; and, in fact, 
according to Flemming, a straggler was actually shot in Scot- 
^md m the winter of 1825. Associated with this rapidity of 
ignt must also be the extent and acuteness of its vision, or 
otherwise the object of its motions would be nugatory; so 
*’ 'vhile thus darting over the country almost with the 
VC ocity of thought, it still keeps up a strict survey for its 
te, and in passing over a sterile region sails high in the air 
tvith a widely extended front, but instantly drops its flight at 
0 prospect of food, flying low till it alights near an ample 
supply. 
^he associated numbers of Wild Pigeons, the numerous 
oc s which compose the general swarm, are without any 
. P^tallel in the history of the feathered race; they can 
be compared to the finny shoals of herrings, 
^ ich, descending from the Arctic regions, discolor and fill 
c ocean to the extent of mighty kingdoms. Of their amaz- 
'ug numbers and the circumstances attendant on this fact, -the 
•■cader will do well to consult the indefatigable Wilson and the 
j ® ® rated Audubon. Our limits and more bounded personal 
crmation will not allow us to enlarge on this curious and 
^ xtraordinary subject, d'o talk of hundreds of millions of 
viciuals of the same species habitually associated in feed- 
^ug, roosting, and breeding, without any regard to climate or 
1? operating cause in these gregarious movements, 
b ^o be wholly incredible if not borne out 
numerous testimony of all the inhabitants of the neigh- 
with*^^ approach of the mighty feathered army 
sudd ^ rashing roar and a stirring breeze, attended by a 
to o ^urkness, might be mistaken for a fearful tornado about 
the Nature. For several hours togetlier 
to na ®^^®'vding some miles in breadth, still continues 
P3-SS in flocks without diminution. 
The whole air is filled 
