The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-04
The Passenger Pigeon.

Are passenger pigeons returning:
F. II. MASRosE, vice-president of the
Connecticut State Board OF Fisheries
and Game. and +. Il. CuRTIss Of
Forestvillc in the Nutmeg State, both
testify that at Graniss Pond, Ston-
in.ton, they observed last May three
passenger pigeons perched on deal
tree not more than fifty ieet away
from them. One was a fine specimen
of the full fledsed cock pigeon. with
the markings; another was fun
grown hen pigeon. and the third ind
vidual was n yearlins cock, with
slightly notified breast.
Both men being members of the
Forestville Fishing Club they urged
the other members to make further
observations. G. W. WOOSTER on June
observed all three birds and W. X.
PARKER noticed the Two old birds
seven days later. All the men are
over 80 years old. and in their boy
hood days were familiar with the
passenger pigeon.
The evidence holds out hope. In
Science of November l there appears
a statement that three bird students
saw n small flock of passenger pigeons
between West Galway and Charlton,
y. Y. Some OF our Great South Bay
oystermen and baymen insist that a
few of these birds may be seen MI
grating every wear along the southern
shore of Long Island.
Since the death on September /,
1914, in the Geological Garden At Gin
cinnati. Of what was generally be-
lleyed to be the last surviving pas
senger pigeon. there have been numeI-
Gus reports of the sighting Of pas
senger pigeons. but on investigation
the birds have proved to he mourn
ing doves,
At attempt was made in 1910 to
find an undisturbed nest OF the pas
senger pigeons, and although more
than $1,000 was offered in rewards to
the discovercr OF one and the offer
held good for several years no award
was ever collected. State rewards Of
500 we're offered with the same end
in view in New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsyl-
vania. Illinois and Michigan, where
the passenger pigeon once was pro-
life. but CHIIDs, kusER, BoRRoUGHs,
KINNEY, AVIS, MERsHoS, THANER,
GRISSELL and HODGE, and others in
terested in the passenger pigeon, had
their checks returned to them.
Civilized man was the exterminator
Of the bird. Millions of birds were
brought down by systematic slaughter
for the market and the pot by the
shotguns, clubs aud nets Of the earll-
est American pothunters. How could
bird. even though its numbers once
darkened the skies, stand such slaugh-
ter as was involved in a daily ship
ment OF three carloads for forty days?
The town of Hartford, Mich, did that
in 1869. The total was estimated at
II $50, 900 birds. In two years an.
other Michigan town marketed To-
$40, 900 birds.
In 1S4S Massachusetts grayeiy
passed a law protecting the meters of
wild pigeons. There was fine OF
SO for damaging nets or frightening
pigeons away from them, Pigeon
slaughter was a legitimate industry.
In 1867 New York came TO the CON
clusion that the wild pigeon needed
protection, but the following year saw
its last great nesting, the last rooSt-
ing being in 1873. Michigan gave the
birds protection In 1860 and Pennsyl.
vania not until 1878. Massachusetts
in 1870 gave protection TO the birds
that once we're sold for II cents a
dozen.
The millions of passenger pigeons
were 50 suddenly exterminated that
1t was hard to believe that they we're
extinct, Assertions were numerous