Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-09-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
FLIGHT OF WILD PIGEONS.

BY J. J. AUDUBON.
One day in autumn left my house at Hender-
son, on the banks of the Ohio on my way to Lou
isville. Having met the pigeons flying from north
east to southwest in the barens of natural wastes
few miles beyond Hardensburgh, in greater APP
parent numbers than | thought | had ever seen be-
fore, felt an inclination TO enumerate the focks
that would pass within the reach Of my eye in one
hour. dsmounted and seating myself on a toll
cradle eminence took my pencil to mark down
what saw going by and over ipe, and made dot
for every flock which passed.
FINDING, however, that this was next to impossi-
Bile, and feeling unable TO record the focks, as they
multiplied constantly, | rose, and counting the dots
then put down, discovered that one hundred and
sixty-three had been made in twenty -one minutes
1 travelled on, and still met more the farther went.
The air was literally filled with pigeons; the light
of MONDAY became dim, as during an eclipse; and
the continued buzz Of their wings over me had a
tendency to incline my senses to repose.
Before sunset reached Louisville, distant from
Hardensburgh ffly-f,e miles, where the pigeons
still passing, and tins continued for three days
in succession.
The people were indeed all up in arms, and
shooting on all sides at the passing focks The
banks OF the river covered with men and chill
dren, for here the pigeons flew rather low as they
passed the Ohio. This gave fair opportunity to
destroy them in great numbers. For week or
more, the population spoke OF nothing but pigeons.
The whole almos phere during this time strong
y mpregnated with the smell appertainng to their
species.
1t may not, perhaps, be out of place to attempt
an estimate of the number of pigeons contained in
one of those mighty ocks, and the quantity Of food
daily consumed by its members. The inquiry will
show the astonishing bounty Of the Creator in his
works, and how universally this bounty has been
granted to every living thing that vast continent
of America.
We shall take, for example, column of one mile
IN breadth, which Is far below the average SIZE and
suppose passing over US without interruption fol
three hours, at the rate Of one mile per minute
This will give us parallelogram of one hundred
and eighty miles by one, covering one hundred ant
eighty square miles; and allowing two pigeons tC
the square yard, we have one billion, one hundred
and fifteen millions, one hundred and tbirty-sia
thousand pigeons in one flock; and as every pig
con consumes fully half pint Of food per day. the
quantity must be eight millions, seven hundred anC
twelve bushels per day, which is required to fec
such flock.
As soon as these birds discover a suficiency o
food to ence them to alight, they fly round in cir
Giles, reviewing the country below, and at this time
exhibit their phaanX in all the beauty of their plu
mage; now displaying large, slistening sheet o
bright azure, by exposing their backs to view anC
suddenly veering exhibit mass Of rich deep pur
pIe They then pass lower over the woods, AM
are lost among the foliage for moment; but the,
appear as suddenly above, after which they alighi
and, as II aiirghed, the whole again take to wing
with roar equal to loud thunder, and wander swift
ly through the forest to see if danger is near I'm
polling hunger however, soon brings them all t.
the ground, and tlfen they are seen industrous
throwing up the fallen leaves 10 seek for the las
beech-nut or acorn; the rear ranks continually ri
Tslng passing over, and allghting in front in sue
quick succession, that the whole still bears the ap
pearance OF being on the wing. The quantity 9
ground thus swept up, or, to use French expires
els ST IN is
work, that cleaners never find it worth their Will
to follow where the pigeons have been. On sue
occasions, when the woods arc thus filed with then
they are killed in immense numbers, yet withou
any apparent dminution. During the middle {
the day, after their repast is finished, the whole sci
tie on the trees to enjoy rest, and digest their food
but as the sun sinks in the horizon, they depart
masse for the roasting place. not unfrequently hur
dreds of miles off, as has been ascertaned by pei
sons keeping account of their arrival and of the
departure from their curious roostng places,
which must now conduct the reader.