Eastern times., 1855-11-15

These were TO go in opposite directions, the la
dies, upon the jfrsi day of the hunt, accompa-
nying whichever they chose. Upon all sue
ceeding days, however, the case would be diff
ferent. The ladies were to accompany that
party which upon the day previous had bagged
the greatest number Of birds. The victorious
gentlemen, moreover, were endowed with
other privileges which lasted throughout the
evening-such as the choice of partners for the
dinner-table and the dance.
need not point out to the reader that in
these conditions existed powerful motives for
exertion. The Colonel's guests were the elite
of western society. Most of the gentlemen
were young men or bachelors and among
the ladies there were belles-three or four of
them rich and beautiful. On my arrival |
could see signs of incipient firtations. At
tachments had already arisen, and BY many it
would have been esteemed anything but pleas
ant to be separated in the manner prescribed.
A strong esprit du corps was thus established ;
and, by the time the pigeons arrived, both par
ties had determined to do their utmost. In
fact, have never known so strong spirit Of
rivalry to exist between two parties of amateur
sportsmen.
Wilson, and, later still; the word-ren6wned
naturalist, Audubon, have left but little to be
told of the American passenger pigeon (Co-
luua6a migratorid.) A few facts, however,
from the observations of an amateur ornitholo-
gist, may not be without interest. They will,
perhaps, brighten up the readers recollections
of this singular bird.
The passenger is less in size than the
house-pigeon. In the air it looks unlike the
kite, wanting the forked or 'swallow-tail. =
That of the pigeon is cuneform. Its color is
best described by calling it nearly uniform
slate. In the male the colors are deeper, and
the neck-feathers present the same changeable
hues of green, gold, and purple crimson, gen.
orally observed in birds of this species. 1t is
only when in the woods, and when freshly
caught or killed, that these brilliant tints can
be seen to perfection. They fade in captivity,
and Immediately after the bird has been shot.
They seem to form part of its life and liberty.
and disappear when it is robbed of either. l
have often thrust the wild-pigeon, freshly
killed, into my game-bag, glttering like an
opal. have drawn it forth few hours after,
of dull leaden hue, and altogether unlike the
same bird. As with all birds of this tribe,
the female is inferior 10 the male, both in size
and plumage. The eye is less vivid. In the
male it is of the most brilliant and fiery or
ange, enclosed in well defined circle of red
skin. The eye is in truth its finest feature,
and never fails to strike the beholder with ad-
miraton.
The most singular fact in the natural histo-
ry of the passenger is their countless num-
bers. Audubon saw a flock that contained
zone billion one hundred and sixteen millions
of BIRDS Wilson counted, or rather COM
puted, flock of 'two thousand two hundred
and thirty millions = These numbers seem
incredible. l have doubt of their truth. l
have no doubt that they are under rather than
oUer the numbers actually seen by both these
naturalists, for both made most liberal allow
ances in their calculations. Where do these
immense focks come 'front.' They breed in
all parts of America. Their breeding-places
are found as far north as Hudson's Bay, and
they have been seen in the southern forests of
Louisiana and Texas. The nests are built
upon high trees, and resemble immense rook-
cries. In Kentucky, one of their breeding
places was forty miles in length by several in
breadth One hundred nests will often be
found upon single tree, and in each nest
there is but one 'squab.' Their eggs are pure
white, like those of the common kind, and like
them they breed several times during the year,
but principally when food is plenty. They es-
.tablish themselves in great roosts, sometimes
for years together, to which each night they
return from their distant xcursions-hundreds
of miles, perhaps, for this is but short fly for
travellers who can pass over mile in single
minute, and some of them have even strayed
across the Atlantic to England They, how
ever, as have myself observed, remain in the
same woods where they have been feeding fol
several days together. have also observed
that they prefer roosting in the low under.
wood, even when tall trees are close at hand
II near water, or hanging over stream, the
place is still more to their liking and in the
morning they may be seen alighting on the
bank to drink, before taking to their daily oc-
cupation.
The great 'roosts' and breeding-places are
favorite resorts for numerous birds of prey
The small vultures, lcathartes aura and atra
tus,) or as they are called in the west, turkey
buzzards, and 'carrion crow do not confnt
themselves to carrion alone. They are fond o
live squads, which they drag out of thei
nests at pleasure. Numerous hawks and kite:
prey upon them and even the great white
headed eagle, falco lelcocephdlus,) may b
seen soaring md occasionally sweeping dowI
for dainty morsel. On the ground beneath
move enemies of different kind, both bipet
and quadruped. Fowlers with their guns ant
long poles farmers with wagons to carry of
the dead birds and even droves of hogs to de
your them, Trees fall under the axe, ant
huge branches break down by the weight o
the birds themselves, killing numbers in thei