28 
THE PASSENGER PIGEON. 
same evolutions which had been traced as it were in the air by a preceding 
flock. Thus, should a Hawk have charged on a group at a certain spot, the 
angles, curves, and undulations, that have been described by the birds, in 
their efforts to escape from the dreaded talons of the plunderer, are unde- 
viatingly followed by the next group that comes up. Should the bystander 
happen to witness one of these affrays, and, struck with the rapidity and 
elegance of the motions exhibited, feel desirous of seeing them repeated, 
his wishes will be gratified if he only remain in the place until the next 
group comes up. 
As soon as the Pigeons discover a sufficiency of food to entice them to 
alight, they fly around in circles, reviewing the country below. During 
their evolutions, on such occasions, the dense mass which they form exhibits 
a beautiful appearance, as it changes its direction, now displaying a glisten- 
ing sheet of azure, when the backs of the birds come simultaneously into 
view, and anon, suddenly presenting a mass of rich deep purple. They then 
pass lower, over the woods, and for a moment are lost among the foliage, but 
again emerge, and are seen gliding aloft. They now alight, but the next 
moment, as if suddenly alarmed, they take to wing, producing by the flap- 
ping of their wings a noise like the roar of distant thunder, and sweep 
through the forests to see if danger is near. Hunger, however, soon brings 
them to the ground. When alighted, they are seen industriously throwing 
up the withered leaves in quest of the fallen mast. The rear ranks are 
continually rising, passing over the main-body, and alighting in front, in 
such rapid succession, that the whole flock seems still on wing. The 
quantity of ground thus swept is astonishing, and so completely has it been 
cleared, that the gleaner who might follow in their rear would find his labour 
completely lost. Whilst feeding, their avidity is at times so great that in 
attempting to swallow a large acorn or nut, they are seen gasping for a 
long while, as if in the agonies of suffocation. 
On such occasions, when the woods are filled with these Pigeons, they are 
killed in immense numbers, although no apparent diminution ensues. About 
the middle of the day, after their repast is finished, they settle on the trees, 
to enjoy rest, and digest their food. On the ground they walk with ease, as 
well as on the branches, frequently jerking their beautiful tail, and moving 
the neck backwards and forwards in the most graceful manner. As the sun 
begins to sink beneath the horizon, they depart en masse for the roosting- 
place, which not unfrequently is hundreds of miles distant, as has been 
ascertained by persons who have kept an account of their arrivals and 
departures. 
Let us now, kind reader, inspect their place of nightly rendezvous. Ono 
of these curious roosting-places, on the banks of the Green river in Kentucky, 
