The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-03
E-Ee Fs;ScoN sE7esEis,r.

For Us to attempt to cnligntcn our
readers in this locality, upon the sub
iect Of pigeon ncstings would be idle in.
decd, but there are many others who as
vcrlaut as We were, viii look upon the
conerogatcd millions Of these binds with
their nests as they are DOW to be seen
in tie Highland woods Tor miles in
extent and covering thousands Of acres,
Us one Of Notures' Wonders. When
a 10y. we read Audubon's account Of
a great pigeon roost in one Of the ives
tern States, and his vivid description
aroused a desire in us to see something
Of the kind for ourselves, desire which
has never been gratifcd until now. We
have been to see this nesting. We left
cur horses at the house Of Mr. Stubs
in Highland who directed us to 90 down
the draft southwest from his house about
mile. lie said we couldn't miss
IT," Well might he say SO, for long
before we reached them we were made
aware Of our proximity by their loud
and contiued noises. We reached
the nesting about noon. We found the
cocks were on the nests while the hens
were away feeding. This is one pecu-
liarity Of the pigeon eminently necessa-
ry to their multiplication. Myriads of
them nesting in one locality it requires
a large scope of country to furnish them
their food. They are known to feed
fifty miles distant from their nests. The
absence for this purpose would require
50 much time, that the eggs would be
come cold, were it not that the cock and
the hen each sit on the nest while the
other feeds. For this reason a flock of
pigeons during the Matching season is
always either. all cocks or all hens.
When We We're there the hens com
menced coming in about 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, and continued until we
left which was between four and five.
The noise made by them coming in, can
only be compared to a mighty rushing
wind, while the confusion and combina-
tion of sounds occasioned by the cries
and tapping of wings of those among
the trees, must be left TO the imagina-
ton as beyond description. The nests
are much smaller than we had iancied,
apparently not larger than those of our
smallest birds but very different in shape
and construction, being built Of sticks,
and almost fiat. The pigeon sits on TOP
Of the nest, not in it, the head and tail
projecting. As many as a dozen nests
will be found on quite a small tree
The timber is generally beech, maple
and hemlock The extent of the nest
ing Is not known certainly, but it mus
extend along Bear creek a distance oi
at lest ten miles When we were there
some Of their young were hatched, as
was shown by the egg,shells slrewed
over the ground. About the latter par
of this week, people will be rushing t,
the nesting to gather the " squads tho
name given to the young pigeons
These are said TO be delicacy, ant
will he gathered by the wagon load,
Uc recommend all lovers Of sport ai
we'll as all those who like US we're anx
ious to see one Of the most remarkable
sights animated ratuye affords to visi
this nesting. We feel: (notwithstan
ding our old shot gun nearly kicked on,
side Of our Fl ce Off that we were ampl,
repaid for our trouble. TO those VIII,
are fond of the good things of this life
we need only say that Mrs, Stubbs CAV,
us one Of the best meals we ever had IN
our life.