478 PASSENGER PIGEON. 
the fumes which arise from it so stifle the birds that 
they are said to fall senseless to the ground in per- 
fect showers. The account which Josselyn gives of 
their numbers is really surprising ; he assures us, 
that in 1638, when New England was not in a state 
of population, he observed flocks of them moving, 
at Michaelmas, to the southward, which extended 
four or five miles, and were so thick that they lite- 
rally intercepted the light of the sun. He further 
adds, that when they return in spring, they build 
a chain of nests from tree to tree, which may be 
traced in the woods for many miles. 
This species of pigeon is thus described by Mr. 
Pennant : It has a black bill and red irides ; head, 
and hind part, and sides of the neck, of a slaty 
blue ; on each of the last a large shining golden 
spot ; coverts of the wings of a dark blueish gray, 
marked with a few black spots; quill feathers brown; 
tail of a great length and cuneiform ; the middle 
feathers dusky gray, the next paler, the outmost 
white. Weight nine ounces. 
