8 
PASSENGER PIGEON. 
indentures, until it swept the heavens in one vast and infinitely 
extended line. Other lesser bodies also united with each other, 
as they happened to approach, with such ease and elegance of 
evolution, forming new figures, and varying these as they uni- 
ted or separated, that I was never tired of contemplating them. 
Sometimes a Hawk would make a sweep on a particular part of 
the column, from a great height, when almost as quick as light- 
ning, that part shot downwards out of the common track, but 
soon rising again, continued advancing at the same height as 
before, this inflection was continued by those behind, who on 
arriving at this point, dived down almost perpendicularly, to a 
great depth, and rising followed the exact path of those that 
went before. As these vast bodies passed over the river near 
me, the surface of the water, which was before smooth as glass, 
appeared marked with innumerable dimples, occasioned by the 
dropping of their dung, resembling the commencement of a 
shower of large drops of rain nr hail. 
Happening to go ashore one charming afternoon, to purchase 
some milk at a house that stood near the river, and while talk- 
ing with the people within doors, I was suddenly struck with 
astonishment at a loud rushing roar, succeeded by instant dark- 
ness, which, on the first moment, I took for a tornado about to 
overwhelm the house, and every thing around in destruction. 
The people observing my surprise, coolly said, ‘‘It is only the 
Pigeons;” and on running out I beheld a flock, thirty or forty 
yards in width, sweeping along very low, between the house 
and the mountain or height that formed the second bank of the 
river. These continued passing for more than a quarter of an 
hour, and at length varied their bearing so as to pass over the 
mountain, behind which they disappeared before the rear came 
up. 
In the Atlantic states, though they never appear in such un- 
paralleled multitudes, they are sometimes very numerous; and 
great havoc is then made amongst them with the gun, the clap- 
net, and various other implements of destruction. As soon as 
it is ascertained in a town that the Pigeons are flying numer- 
