The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-06-05

Traverse City.
The great pigeon nesting of Forest
county, Pa, covers twenty miles. II is
in jerks and Howe townships, near the
source Of streams that empty into the
Allegheny river. Il is sixteen miles
south of Sheffield, twenty miles west of
Kane, and hundred miles south Of Buff
falo in 4 direct line. The country is
almost an unbroken wilderness. Not
more than ten persons live within the
boundaries Of the. nesting. There are
roads, but they are as rough as Tammany
politicians and surpass them in bruising
power. They were made by wood-chop-
pers and bark -peciers. Roots and stones
mount skyward, and ruts and mud holes
sink deep toward the bottomless pit
The country is neither rocky nor noun
famous. II is a hilly slope, shaded with
beeches and hemlocks, and few cherry,
birch, and maple trees. The beeches
bear crop Of nuts irregularly and new
CT two years in succession. The nut is
triple-sided and triangular, and grows
within prickly burr. much smaller than
4 chestnut burr. Each burr contains
two nuts. The first frost cracks the
burrs, and the nuts drop to the ground
Under covering Of snow they retain
their sweetness until spring.
These nuts attract the pigeons. The
condition Of the crop is studied by small
scouting parties in the fall, and in some
manner is told to the main army, who
advance with the approach Of spring
This year the advance guard appeared
in the latter part OF February. They
roasted At the head OF Minister and
porky creeks, tributaries Of the Tionesta.
4 light snow fell soon after their arrival,
but did not prevent them from securing
IN ample supply Of nuts. They swept
downward in groups of thousands and
whipped the snow from the ground with
their wings. The continuous tapping
sounded like the roar OF 4 cataract.
THE BIRDS RoOsTiNG.
Myriads Of birds poured into the roost
daily for the next fortnight. Theycame
in sheets that stretched from horizon to
horizon, and n, times obscured the light
Of the sun. At night over five square
miles Of trees were loaded with roosting
birds. The noise was deafening. At
times huge branches, broken by the
weight Of birds, crashed to the ground,
throwing the vast camp into dire confu-
sion. The unfortunate pigeons fluttered
to and froin the darkness. uttering plain
tive cries, which w:re answered by their
more fortunate companions in the trees.
a heavy fall Of snow or 4 gale after dark
breaks many overwcightcd limbs and
spreads dismay among the flock. The
fallen birds skulk to cover and await the
break Of day, filling the darkness with
their cries OF terror. Farmers and others
visited the roost after night-fall, and, by
the light Of blazing fire, dubbed hun
dreds Of birds from the lower branches
Of the trees with long poles.
While sojourning at the roost the birds
mate. The tom pigeon COOS incessant-
ly, swelling his chest Ia Conkling and
ruffiing the feathers At his neck. The
mating lasts three or urdays. Athous-
and millions Of birds or more arc court
ing. The forest resounds with love-
making. Frequently toms court the
same hen, and battle royal ensues.-
Eyes fash fire, beaks are crossed like
raplers, and the combatants use their
wings as Irishmen use shillelahs At 1
country fair. The hens stand By, coy
and modest, and give themselves to the
victor without reserve. Once mated,
the pair is a model Of constancy. The
tom is all attention and the hen all al
fection. He brings her the choicest
deliczeies and she rewards him with
kisses. Woe betide the feaihered rouc
who tries to loosen the domestic bond.
Respectable married pigeons make COM
mon cause against him, and club him
from the camp in disgrace The pair,
however, are not mated forlife. A nest
ing breaks the contract, and ever after
ward they treat each other like strangers.
No tom was ever known TO fight twicc
for the same hen. II a hen loses her
mate she remains widow until the next
year.
THE WAY THEY NEST.
Nesting begins soon after mating
The birds never nest at 4 roost. This
year the first corps nested fortnight
after their arrival. The nests are most
ly made in leaaess hard wood trees,
about twenty miles from the roost. The
tom gathers the twigs and the hen in
TERRACES them. No artistic skill is DIS
played. The twigs are woven without
regularity, and the structure resembles
an eagles nest on 4 small scale. The
interior IS thatched with mOss gathered
from the bark Of hemlock trees. The