Old Notes on the Passenger Pigeon ( Edopistes migratorius) . — In an 
old note book formerly belonging to Mr. Luther Adams of Townsend, 
Massachusetts, and loaned me by one of his descendants, I have copied 
verbatim some interesting data contained therein relating to the Passenger 
Pigeon. Mr. Adams, who was a farmer and horticulturist, availed him- 
self of the opportunity afforded him by netting these birds, and the old 
nets which he used, with many feathers clinging to them, are still on the 
premises. As a record of what took place in the movements of these birds 
from August 26, 1847, to September 11, 1848, in this particular locality, it is 
particularly interesting, as it gives the data for the spring and summer 
months of 1848. Townsend, is 48 miles from Boston, the country is 
springy and hilly, with hard woods (many chestnuts) and pine. The 
pigeon stand was located on a high knoll, which is now covered with pine 
trees a quarter of a century old. The number of pigeons taken in 1847 
was 5,028; in 1848, 1,926 were taken. 
“Pidgeon Bate 184-7. 
found 9 bushel of Buckwheat 
paid Benj Barret four dollars and 
fifty cents for Buckwheat 
paid Jonas farnell $2.00 for wheat 
paid Sami Manning $1.50 for wheat 
paid Edson $1.00 for work 
paid Randal Cudry $3.00 for use 
of place 
paid John Adams $0.50 for use of 
place 
paid seventy-five cents for other 
articles. 
The amount of Pidgeons taken in 
1847. 
dozen 
Aug. 26 caut sixteen dozen .... 16 
Sept. 2 61 J 
“ 4 25 j 
“ 6 58 
“ 7 42 
“ 8 52) 
“ 11 36 
“ 13 344 
“ 16 8 
“ 17 52J 
“ 20 4 
“ 23 104 
“ 24 94 
“Pidgeon Bate 1848. 
Apr 29, found one bushel of wheat 
$1.50 
The amount of Pidgeons taken in 
1848. 
dozen 
May 1 three dozen & eight. . 
. . .3.8 
“ 8 
.. .3.1 
11 15 
. . .3. 
“ 22 
. . .4. 
“ 29 
. . .3. 
June 1 
. . .3. 
“ 5 
OJL 
• • - Z 4 
“ 7 
...54 
“ 9 
■■•7* 
“ 12 
...24 
“ 16 
...54 
“ 19 
...2J 
“ 23 
...2f 
“ 26 
. . .3. 
July 3 
...24 
“ 6 
. . .5. 
“ 14 
. . .2. 
“ 17 
. . .3. 
Aug. 21 
. . .2. 
Sept. 4 
. .8 
“ 5 
■••9 i 
“ 6 
. .55 
“ 7 
...64 
“ 11 
. .194” 
E H. Mackay, Nantucket, Mass. 
Auk p, 
