The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-03-02
ron rnE CHARLOTTE IouRsAL.l
Lincoln Go. ". {. Feb. Is, 1853

| myrads OF W I'D Pigeon, and as their ap.
pearance amongst US is not properly &C.
counted for by all, propose TO otter, thro'
the medium of the Journal, few remarks
on their migratIous and peculiar habits.
The \" lid Pigeon, or Passenger Pigeon
COLUMBIA migratorla) is bird peculiar 10
North America. Ii extends lis mgral,ons,
according to circumstances, from Hudsons
Bay TO the Gulf Of Mexico; aud occupies
occasionally thai vas, region which reach.
es from the Gulf Of S, Lawrence to the
Rocky Mountains. lis change OF residence
/ is not owing 10 the ycissitudes Of weather,
/ but is made entirely with the view TO the
acquisition of food. In the lnhospitable re.
gion which surrounds Hudson's Bay, II has
been seen in the month Of December, wealth
ering the severity Of the climate with ndif
ference, and supporting Itself upon the
neagre buds Of the juniper when the ground
is hidden by lnundailng SHOWS.
The almost incredible associations which
the species form with each other, are with
out any parallel in the history Of The ieath.
cred race. A general and natural attach
ment seems 10 occasion this congregating
propensity. 10 the language of the scien.
tlic Nuttall, ".ihey can indeed only be com
! pared TO the finny shoals OF herrinss, which,
descending from the arctic regions, discolor
and I'LL the ocean to the extent of mighty
kingdoms" La llonian says tha, the Bsh
op Of Canada has been forced to exercise
them eI,ener than once, On account OF the
damages which they commit on tue pro
ducts Of the earth. Weld, an English trav.
eler speaks of flock eighty miles long
| flying over Lake Ontario; and the great
ornlihologist, Wilson, estimates one seen in
! Kentucky, two hundred aud forty miles
long, mile broad and containing upwards
al two hundred and thirty millions. To
talk Of such vast numbers of the same spe.
ces habituaily associated in feeding, roost
lpg, and breeding, without any regard to
/ climate Or season, as an operating cause
/ IN these gregarlous movements, is well cal.
culated 10 starile the unbelief of tue most
credulous, we're II not borne out by the high
and commanding testimony Of the sndeiatl
gable W .son aud The celebrated Audubon.
The approach of the mighty fea,bered ar
my, with loud rushing roar, might readi.
/ " be mistaken or fearful tornado about
| TO overwheltn the lace OF a,ure. For sew.
eral hours IN succession the vast host con.
ti0ue TO pass IN extended fiochs without
dlminutlon. As might be supposed from
their extraordinary history, they are formed
with peculiar strength of wing, and are en-
abed, BY quick and very muscular strokes,
to speed their way with extreme IapldIty.
Pigeons killed near New York have been
found with their crops full of undigested
rice collected IN the plantations Of Carolina
or Georgia; and as thus kind OF food is dl.
1 gested by them 10 II hours, they must have
| travelled probably three or four hundred
4 miles in about the halt of that time, or have
sped al the rate of mile a minute. With
velocity like this. our Pigeon could visit
7 the shores OF Europe in less than three days.
! AT he approach OF the hawk their sublime
and aerial evolutlons are disturbed like the
rltilng squall on the placid ocean. 1t is
sublime spectacle 10 behold the ea,hered ar.
my moving together 10 concentrating mass,
heav,ng IN ghtierlng and unduating sweeps
TO the earth, aud again ascending IN lofty
meanders like the mighty rushing Of an anl-
mated river. Ii should, however, be borne
in mind that IN the Atlantic States we are
7 not visited by such vast and almost lncredl-
I bIs number of these erratic strangers as are
known TO inhabIt the great Western valley.
As the sun begins to decline they depart in
successive bodies for the general roost,
which is always chosen in the tallest and
I ihickest forests, almost Invested OF under
growth. The stately pine is preferred as
It's thick and evergreen foliage is well cal
cuated TO give the appearance OF security.
| For several hours after night, successive
| ifocks arrive which have made distant fights
in search of food. The submits aud de
clvites of mountains, and old fields, thick
! " studded ~l.h pines are sometimes re.
sorted TO az retreats for nocturnal repose.
At their general roost, the massy branches
Of trees may be seen torn off by the cluster
ing weight Of the birds which have roasted
upon them.
Their lavorite food is the beech nut and
they prefer to establish their roosiuI quar-
,ers and breeding places within reach OF
this alment. Hence the great valley Of
the Mississippi, and It's most important trl
butaries, is the wide spread theatre upon
which they delight 10 assemble. They al.
so subsst on acorns, chesnuIs, pokeberrles,
wild cherries. and different KINDS of pulse
and grain. A remarkable trait in their
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