The Passenger Pigeon. — Since the year 1871 I had not seen a Wild 
Pigeon until 1896, when, near the Bay of Quinte, I saw a pair. The fol- 
lowing year in the same vicinity, I saw from four to six birds on several 
occasions and during the next two years I saw about the same number. 
The past season I had not the opportunity of observation. 
In 1898 I wrote in ‘The Globe,’ the leading daily paper of Canada, ask- 
ing any one who had seen Wild Pigeons, during recent years, to make it 
known. This elicited many replies through ‘ The Globe ’ and by personal 
letters. 
There was a general agreement as to a total disappearance about 1870, 
continuing until 1895. A few stated they had seen an occasional bird 
earlier. The reports were from all parts of Ontario and Manitoba. Mr. 
D. C. Black, Appin, Ont., writes: “ I saw nine in a wheat field near the 
village of Glencoe, and they are the first I have seen in twenty-five years. 
They did put me in mind of the olden times. When I was a boy I used 
to spend a great deal of my time trying to strike them with sticks. They 
have often taken half a day, crossing over our farm, flying very low, as 
they seemed to be very tired .... To see a few of them is to me as seeing 
a dear old friend.” 
I think we may fairly conclude that the Wild Pigeon abruptly became 
very rare about 1870 (it is probable there was a diminution during the 
previous decade), and that there has been an increase in their number in 
recent years. 
I am not aware of any satisfactory explanation of the phenomena. It 
is not improbable, some epidemic disease, spreading more rapidly on 
account of the immense number of individuals, nearly exterminated the 
species. In such a case, we might expect to see them again, in large 
numbers. This would be analogous to what we see in insects, Danais 
archippus for instance. 
The food supply has certainly become less. In this connection it is inter- 
esting to observe, that in the district where I have seen Wild Pigeons 
recently, there are some white oak trees and though they are mostly second 
growth, they succeed quite a forest of old oaks. There has, in this locality 
probably, been a continuous supply of mast. Mr. S. D. Woodruff of St. 
Catherines, Ont., writes, that he learned from sea captains that immense 
numbers of pigeons perished in the Gulf of Mexico, being exhausted by 
contrary winds and dense fogs. He says the experience of several ship 
masters was having “myriads of the pigeons alight on the vessel and 
rigging, and having to cast them off into the sea.” — G. C. Tremaine 
Ward, Najbance , Ont., Can. Auk) XVIII, April., 1901 , P p-'V'Z ' 
Recent Records of the Wild Pigeon. — Occasionally some old-timer 
writes to the newspapers announcing the return of the Wild Pigeon 
(Ectopistes migratorius ), and in nine cases out of ten the Mourning 
Dove ( Zenaidura macrotira ), has been the innocent cause. One recent 
discussion in the Toronto papers was brought to an abrupt and apparently 
satisfying conclusion by the announcement, copied from a sporting 
journal, that one of the American consuls in South America had stated 
that the Wild Pigeon had taken refuge on, I think, the east side of the 
Andes, anyway that the consul and pigeons were far enough away to 
satisfy the most inquiring. I have for some time kept a careful record of 
reported announcements of Wild Pigeons, and among them I have selected 
the following as reliable : 
1896. October 22, Toronto. “Saw eleven Wild Pigeons flying in a south- 
west course over Well’s Hill.”— J. Hughes Samuel. 
1898. April 14, Winnipegosis, Manatoba. An adult male taken, mounted 
by Mr. G. E. Atkinson, Winnipeg. 
1898. September 14, Detroit, Michigan. Immature bird taken, mounted 
by Mr. C. Campion, Detroit, by whom it was sent to me. 
1900. May 16, Toronto, Ont. Mr. Oliver Spanner saw a flock of about 
ten flying west over the mouth of the Etibocoke River (ten miles 
west of Toronto), between 10 and 11 a. m., and about an hour after- 
wards the same flock returned, flying eastward towards Long Branch. 
Mr. J. G. Joppling had joined Mr. Spanner and saw the birds return; 
they were flying low, just over the trees. 
1900. July 6, Toronto, Ont. “Saw five at Centre Island going southwest 
They passed out over the lake.”— J. Hughes Samuel. 
1902. May 16, Penctanquishene, Ont. One seen ; pair seen two days later, 
in same locality by Mr. A. L. Young.— J. H. Fleming, Toronto , Ont 
Auk, XX, Jan., 1903, .66, 
