Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-02

the subject. A short answer to the Ques-
ton is that the wild pigeon has become al
most extinct in this country. Thirty years
ago. or more, wild pigeons were so plenty
and committed so much damage to newly
sown wheat that they became a great nui-,
sance. The air. at times. was darkened
with their flight, and / once heard my
father say that at one time he had known
them to be so numerous in certain parts of
Ohio as to shut out the sunlight for three
days al a time.
A War Of determination.
Sportsmen. farmers and others combined
against the wild pigeon and waged a war
of determination on him with guns and nets
until today a wild pigeon is almost as hard
to find as a hens tooth. The breeding
haunts Of the wild pigeon were also invad-
ed and thousands Of eggs and newly hatch
ed pigeons were destroyed. A broiled pig
con Is fine eating, but 1t Is probable that
of the vast numbers killed only a small per-
centage found its way to the table. The
habitat of the wild pigeon is in the forestal
regions of the eastern North America, or
east of the Rockies. It's center Of circum-
ference Is where the beech nuts grow album
dainty. The pigeon is also fond of feeding
on the acorns of pinoaks, and the shack of
other varieties of the oak. 1 have shot pig
cons so full of acorns that they could not
shut their mouths The last wild pigeons I
saw were near Laurel. Md. in the early
seventies. A personal friend shot three or
four In and about the same vicinity in the
fall of 1885. since which time. as far as I
have been able to ascertain none. have been
seen In that locality.
Great Concern Manifested.
at was about this time that great con-
Germ was manifested among sportsmen
ABOUT the disappearance of the wild pigeon,
and the specimens secured were prepared
q nd MI vol In,
to time this department has been flooded
with inquiries as to the cause of the scar
city OF pigeons. and at one period the crush
OF inquiries was 50 great that we were in
c1ned to issue general circular upon the
subject.
The American wild pigon is found in no
other country. He belongs to the first
families Of birds because he was here to
begin with Other lands have pigeons, but
eney diner widely in size. plumage and
American pigeon is the perfection of SYM
metry. His body Is long and rakish look
ing, Is built on speed lines, and he Is &C
tuaily the swfftest thing that f1ys. His tail
Is long and wedge shaped, and his plum
mage dazzles one with its richness Of COL
oring Many persons rest under the impress
sion that the dove is descended from the pig
con. The dove belongs to the same species but
has broad tail. There are several varieties
OF doves. which demonstrates that the dove
and pigeon are not the same The Ameri-
can wild pigeon is in class by himself.
He possesses wonderful flight Of speed
He Is the express of the air, while the wild
goose, in spite Of all that has been said in
his favor in the matter Of speed Is the
freight train I have no idea how far
wild goose or pigeon can fly in a day. and
as matter Of fact. I think the flight of
birds has been very much exaggerated any
way.
The South Carolina Paroquet.
another bird that is almost # not quite
extinct is the South Carolina parouuet. a
species of native parrot. This bird is also
Indigenous, and at one time was almost as
widely distributed the pigeon. He could
be found a few years since IN certain parts
OF Florida. I discovered covey on Tay-
lor's creek a few years ago. The spot
named Is where General Taylor fought the
Seminoles The popularity Of the bird is
that when wounded he emits a scream
when his mates will come to his rescue
and will hover around him until the last
one Of them Is shot down.
The paroauet feeds on corn in the milk
and fruit and at one time became as great
a pest as the famous ricebird.
The Wild Goose and VuIture.
THE wild goose is holding his own fairly
well. He Is not highly esteemed as game
bird and commits comparatively little
damage to crops. His flights are usually
made in the night. and his powers of en-
durance are not exaggerated, but his speed
is AS the nesting season approaches the
waters of the great northern lakes are
alive with them. They go north as far
as Alaska, and explorers relate in their
reports that millions Of them inhabit the
northern waters in summer The wild
goose can be domesticated, but with diff
Guilty. When the time for fight arrives
he Is likely to join his brethren, unless
his wings are clipped.
The California vulture was at one time
also In great danger of extinction Wolves
In certain parts Of California had been
playing havoc with herds Of sheep in the
state. and herders In revenge poisoned
the carcasses of the sheep. AS the vul-
ture Is carton bird, dead mutton was
right in his line. and so many were killed
that 1t was long time before they again
became common. The California vulture Is
almost the equal in size and length of
wing of the condor OF the Andes. Best
specimens of the vulture measure nine
feet from tip to tip, which, when one con-
templates 1t, is an enormous spread of
wing. Several fine specimens have re-
Gently been sent me to be prepared for