Eastern times., 1855-11-15

and white with ordure, have retired beyond the
borders of the roost to rest themselves for the
night, their ground is occupied by the prowl-
ing wolf and fox ; the racoon and the cougar !;
the lynx, and the great black bear.
With so many enemies, one would think
that the passenger would soon be extermi-
mated. Not SO. They are too prolific for
that. Indeed, were it not for these enemies,
they themselves would perish for want of food.
Fancy what it takes TO feed them The flock
seen by Wilson would require eighteen million
bushels Of corn euery day, and it was most
likely one of many such that at the time were
traversing the vast continent of America
Upon what do they feed it will be asked
Upon the fruits of the great forest-upon the
acorns, the nuts of the beech, upon buck-wheat
and Indian corn; upon many species OF ber-
ries, such as the huckleberry, (tOhortlebvry,)
blackberry, (celis crassifolia,) and the fruit of
the holly. In the northern regions, where
these are scarce, the berries of the Juniper,
(Juniperus conlnunis,) forms the principal
food. On the other hand, among the southern
plantations, they devour greedily the rice, as
well as the nuts of the chestnut-tree, and sew
eral species of oaks. But their staple food is
the beech-nut, or mast as it is called Of
this the pigeons are fond, and fortunately it
exists in great plenty. In the forests of
Western America there are vast tracts COW
cred almost entirely with the beech-trees, ga
gus syludtica.) 1t is one of the most beautiful
of forest trees. Unlike most of the others, its
bark is smooth, without cracks, ard often of
silvery hue. Large beech-trees, standing by
the path, or near cross-road, are often seen
covered with names, initials, and dates. In
deed, the beautiful coumn-like trunk seems 10
invite the ever-ready knife and many souv-
enir is carved upon it by the lettering way
farer. 1t does not, however, invite the axe of
the settler. On the contrary, the beech woods
often remain untouched, while others fall
around them-partly because these trees are
not usually the indices of the richest soil, but
more from the fact that clearing a piece of
beech forest is no easy matter. The green
logs do not burn so readily as those of the oak,
the maple, the elm, or poplar, and hence the
labor ofrolling them off the ground-a serious
thing where labor is scarce and dear. For
remain almost intact, and so long as they
shower down their millions of bushels of
mast so long will the passenger pigeons
futter in countless numbers amidst their
branches. t-...f
Large tracts of beech-woods adjoined the
plantation of Colonel p; and of course the
pigeons might be expected about the falling OF
the mast. Their migration is semi-annual !;
but unlike most other migratory birds, it is far
from being regular. Their flight is in fact
not periodical migration, but sort of no.
madc existence-food being the object which
keeps them in motion and directs their course.
The scarcity in one part determines their
movement to another. When there is more
than the usual fall of snow in the northern re-
gions, vast focks make their appearance in the
Middle States, as in Ohio and Kentucky
This may in some measure account for the
overcrowded roosts which have been occasion
ally seen, but which are by no means common.
You may live in the west for many years
without witnessing a scene such as those de-
scribed by Wilson and Audubon, though once
or twice every year you may see pigeons
enough to astonish you.
The pigeons at length arrived. 1t was a
bright sunny morning. and yet at intervals the
atmosphere was darkened, as the vast flock, a
mile in breadth by several in length, passed
across the canopy. The sound Of their wings
resembled strong wind whistling among tree
tops, or through the rigging of ship. We
saw that they hovered over the woods, and set
tied among the tall beeches.
The hunt was announced, and we set forth,
each party taking the direction allotted to it.
With each went a number of ladies, and even
some of these were armed with light fowling-
pieces, determined that the party of their
choice should be the victorious one.
After a short ride, we found ourselves fairly
sin the woods and in the presence of the
birds; and the sharp crack of the rifle was
heard, mingled with the louder report of the
double-barrelled shot gun.
Now it must not be imagined that the wild
pigeons of America are so tame as they have
been sometimes represented. That is their
character only while young at the breeding
ing g-places, or at the great roosts. when con-
fused by crowding upon each other, and mysti-
fled by torch-light. Far different are they
when wandering through the open fields in
search OF food. 1t is then both difficult to ap-
proach and hard to kill them. Odd birds you
may easily reach you may see them perched
upon the branches on all sides of you, and
within shot-range but the thick of the flock,
somehow or other, always keeps from one to
two hundred yards off. The sportsman cannot
bring himself to fire at single birds. No.
There is tree near at hand literally black
with pigeons. Its branches creak under the
\ weight. What fine havoc he will make if he
can but get near enough! But that is the diff
fcu1ty: there is no cover, and he must ap-
proach as he best can without it. He contin-
ues to advance the birds sit silent, watching
his movements He treads lightly and with