PASSENGER PIGEON. 
475 
greater or lesser numbers, according to the severity 
or mildness of the season. We are assured that 
they swarm during a rigorous winter in immense 
multitudes, and wherever they alight the ground is 
immediately cleared of every esculent fruit. After 
they have devoured all, they form themselves into 
a great perpendicular column, and, flying among the 
branches of the oak trees, beat down the acorns 
with their wings, and then alight to pick them up. 
They are said to do great damage to the corn-fields 
in Canada, by devouring the ear, before they be- 
gin to migrate to the south. 
To mention the multitudes of these birds, which 
appear at particular times, would seem incredible, if 
it was not supported upon so good authority as 
Catesby. We learn from him that their immense 
flocks literally intercept the sun for a considerable 
space ; that as soon as one flock is gone by another 
succeeds ; that each flock is a quarter of an hour in 
passing; and that this continues, in some seasons, 
for three days without any intermission. 
Mr. Pennant received the following information 
respecting these curious birds from the late Mr. 
Ashton Blackburne, whose own observations, added 
to those of his friends, we shall take the liberty of 
transcribing from The Arctic Zoology. 
“ I think,” says Mr. Blackburne, “ this is as re- 
markable a bird as any in America; they are in vast 
numbers in all parts, and have been of great service 
at particular times to our garrisons, in supplying 
