428 A.H. WalGH:r,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. [Oct.[Auk

SOME EARLY RECORDS OF THE PASSENGER PIGEON.

BY ALBERT HAZEN WRIGHT.

THE publicationof this paperis suggestedby the presentgeneral interest in the status of the PassengerPigeon awakenedpartly by the appearanceof Mr. W. B. Mershon'srecent volumex and partly by the numerousrewards now offeredfor the discoveryof living representativesof the species. The recordswere gathered as a "by-product" incidental to an inquiry into the primitive fauna of Central New York. From the local nature of this inquiry and the writer's lack of familiarity with purely historical literature and methods this compilation is necessarilyincomplete. It is hoped that wider and fuller inquiries may be made by others. The writer is greatly indebted to the officialsof the Cornell Uni- versity Library for aid in utilizing the rare collectionsof Andrew D. White, Jared S. Sparksand Goldwin Smith. And lastly my. especialacknowledgments are due Prof. Burt G. Wilder for kindly advice and criticisms. Naturalists are prone to complain because the voluminous records of the Jesuits in New France are so crowded with their hopes,their strugglesand the detailed descriptionsof individual conversions,while only occasionallydoes an observant father remark upon the natural objectsat his very hand. Still, taken altogether they furnish considerableinformation. In their very first Relations, 1610-1613 (Acadia), they mention the great abundanceof pigeonsas the presentnote will indicate:2 "The birds are fully as abundantas the fishes. During certain months of the year the pigeonssally forth from the woodsinto the open country in such great numbers that they overload the branchesof the trees. When they have settled upon the trees at night they are easilycaptured and the savagesheap their tables with royal abundance." In Huron folklore pigeonsentered, as Le Jeune, 1636, shows:3

• The Passenger Pigeon. New York, 1907. • Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents. By R. G. Thwaites and others, 1896. Vol. I, p. 253. a Ibid., Vol. X, pp. 143, 287. Vol. 1010XXVII] ] A. H. WamaT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 429

"At the feast of the Dead, which takes place about every twelve years, the soulsquit the cemeteries,and in the opinion of some are changedinto Turtle doves (possiblyour mourningdoves), which they pursue later in the woods, with bow and arrow, to broiland eat." Accordingto Lesearbot,1612 (Acadia}, a dying Indian chief named Martin, t "when the Patriarch and a man namedde Montfort had caughthim, and madehim eat somewild pigeon,which he liked very much, he askedthem asthey were speak- ing to him about Heaven,if therewould be any wild pigeonthere." In other instances,pigeons served as gifts'to sick, as2 "Mon- sieur de Repentiguy,his Godfather,visited him often in his sick- ness,and sent him sometimesa few eggs,sometimes some Pigeons, .... " Or, as frequently, the fathers themselvesreceived them from the officials,as, 3 "There were sent us by Monsieur the Gov- ernor..... 8 youngpigeons; .... " And again,in their Journal for 1646they recordthat 4 ,, On the 3rd or fourth of January,Monsieur the Governor sent 6 .... pigeons." The early fathers noticedtheir seasonalappearance. Le Jeune, 1637, likened the Savagesto the pigeons? "Our Savagesare always savage,they resemblethe migratory birds of their own country. In one seasonturtle doves are sometimesfound in such abundancethat the end of their army cannot be seen when they are flying in a body; at other timesin the sameseason they appearonly in smallflocks." One father (Relationsof 1656-57)in particular consideredthis migration one of the three remarkable factsof naturalhistory in Amerieafi "The second[fact] is, that, in the Spring, so great numbersof Pigeonscollect around these salt- springs,that sometimesas many as sevenhundred are caughtin the course of one morning." The same observation held for Montezuma (Cayuga Lake), 1671-72?: "Four leaguesfrom here (Cayugamission) I sawby the sideof a river, within a very limited space,eight or ten extremelyfine salt-springs. Many snaresare

Jesuit Relictions, Vol. II, 155. Ibid., Vol. XII, p. 65. Le Jeune, 1636 (Quebec). Ibid., ¾ol. XXX, p. 153. (1647.) Ibid., Vol. XXVIII, p. 145. Ibid., ¾ol. XI, p. 81. Ibid., ¾ol. XLIII, p. 153. (Onondt•gt• Lt•ke.) Ibid., Vol. L¾I, p. 49. 430 A.H. WRmnr,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. [AukLOot. set therefor catchingpigeons, from sevento eighthundred being often taken at once." Of the abundanceof pigeonsVivier amongthe Illinois writes as follows:• "During a portion of the autumn, through the winter, and during a portion of the spring,the country is overrun with swans..... wild pigeons,and teal." Gravier on his voyage throughthe Mississippivalley in 1700says: 2 "We saw so great a numberof wood-pigeonsthat the skywas quite hidden by them." Or, early in 1616Biard in Acadiasays, a "there are a great many wild pigeons,which come to eat raspberrlesin the monthof July, .... " And, lastly, the Relationsof 1662-63 give in somedetail the pigeonsof the St. Lawrencecounty. 4 "Among the birds of every variety to be found here, it is to be noted that Pigeons aboundin suchnumbers that this year one man killed a hundred and thirty-two at a singleshot. They passedcontinually in flocksso dense, and sonear the ground,that sometimes,they were struck down with oars. This seasonthey attacked the grain fields, where they made great havoc, after strippingthe woods and fieldsof strawberriesand raspberries,which grow here every- whereunderfoot. But whenthese Pigeons were taken in requital, they were made to pay the cost very heavily; for the Farmers, besideshaving plenty of them for homeuse, and givingthem to their servants,and even to their dogsand pigs,salted caskfuls of them for the winter." Besidesthe foregoingcitations there are among the Jesuit Relationssome three or four stray notesof hunting pigeons,the most important being in Marquette's Journal (Illinois) where he records5 that "we killed 30 pigeons,which I foundbetter than those down the great river; but they are smaller,both old and young." In New England,only shortly after the Jesuitsbegan to record the wild pigeon,do we find the first accountof this species. A Mr. Higgesonin 1629 writes of them as follows:ø "In the winter

Jesuit Relations, Vol. LXIX, p. 145. Ibid., Vol. LX¾, pp. 109, 111. Ibid., Vol. III, pp. 81, 83. Ibid., Vol. XL¾I[I, p. 177. Ibid., Vol. LIX, p. 181. ttiggeson, Mr. Ne•v England Plantations. Written in 1629. Mass. l:Iist. Soc. (Jolls., Vol. I, p. 121. Vol. 1910XXVII'I j A. H. WaIGHT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 431 time I havescene flockes of pidgeons,and haveeaten of them: They doefly from tree to tree as otherbirds doe, which our pidgeons will not doe in England: They are of all coloursas ours are, but their wingsand tayles are far longer,and thereforeit. is likely they fly swifter to escapethe terrible hawkesin this country." Not longafter JohnJosselyn gave us a better account:• "The Pidgeon,of which there are millions of millions, I have seen a flight of Pidgeonsin the spring and at Michaelmaswhen they return back to the Southwardfor four or five miles, that to my thinking had neither beginningnor ending, length or breadth, and so thick that I couldsee no Sun, they join Nest to Nest, and Tree to Tree by their Nests many miles togetherin Pine-Trees. But of late they are much diminished,the E•zglishtaking them with Nets. I have bought at Bostona dozen of Pidgeansready pull'd and garbidgdfor three pence." In 1649 in "A Perfect Descriptionof Virginia, etc. London," (p. 1.7)"Pidgeons" occurs in the list of birds. Of the sameregion, "A True Relationof Virginia and Maryland, etc. By Nathaniel Shrigley,London, 1669" (p. 4) says that "Fowle naturally to the Land are Eagles.... Turkies..... Pidgions..... and many sorts more." Just precedingLaHontan, Thomas Budd in 1685 in his "Good Order Establishedin Pennsilvaniaand New Jersey in America" (New York ed., 1760, p. 36) remarksthat "The Woods are filrnishedwith a store of Wild Fowl as Turkeys..... Pidgeons,etc." The celebrated LaHontan, in a letter dated at Boucherville, May 28, 1687, writes of the pigeonsas follows:2 "In a word, we eat nothing but Water-fowl for fifteen Days; after which we resolv'd to declareWar against the Turtle-Doves, which are so numerousin Canada,that the Bishophas been forced to ex- communicate'em ortner than once, upon the accountof 'the Damage they do to the Product of the Earth. With that view, we imbarquedand made towardsa Meadow,in the Neighborhood of which, the Trees were cover'd with that sort of Fowl more than with Leaves: For just then 'twas the seasonin which they retire from the North Countries,and repair to the SouthernClimates;

• Josselyn, John. An Account of Two Voyages to New England Made during the Years 1633, 1663. Boston, 1865, p. 79. • LaHontan, New Voyages to North America, Vol. I, pp. 61, 62. London, 1703. 432 A.H. WRmnT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. [Oct.[Auk and onewould have thoughtthat all the Turtle-Dovesupon Earth had choseto passthro' this place. For the eighteenor twenty days that we stay'd there, I firmly believe that a thousandMen might have fed upon 'em heartily.,without putting themselves to any trouble." In two other places• does he mention them; in the latter instance, to include them in his "List of the Fowl or Birds that frequent.... Canada"; and in the former, merely to note that "the Turtle-Doveshad all passedover the place, in quest of their Southern retreats,...." In the sameyear (1687) Richard Blomein his "The PresentState of His MajestiesIsles and Territoriesin America,"published in London, enumeratesthe wild pigeonsin four places. In New Jersey(p. 80) he says,"The Countereyis well storedwith IVild Deer..... andwild fowl of severalsorts; as Turkeys, Pigeons.... in great plenty." In Pennsylvania(p. 94), "Of Fowlsof the Land there is the Turkey.... Pheasants..... Pigeons.... in abundance." In Virginia (p. 189), "They have great plenty of Fowl: as.... Pigeons,...." And finally, comesan isolatednote (p. 252), "Then there is the Wood Pigeon;.... " The year followlng(1688) Mr. JohnClayton speaksof the almost incrediblestories he has heard about the pigeon. He says,2 "Their Turtle-Dovesare of a duskishblue Colour,much lessthan our common Pigeon: the whole Train is longer much than the Tails of our Pigeons,the middleFeather being the longest. There is the strangestStory of a vast Number of these Pigeonsthat camein a Flock a few Yearsbefore I camethither; They saythey came thro' New England, New York and Virginia and were so prodigiousin Number as to darken the Sky for several Hours in the placeover which they flew, and broke massive Boughs where they light, many like thingsxvhich I have had assertedto 'meby many Eye-witness of Credit, that to me it was without doubt, the Relatorsbeing very soberPersons, and all agreeingin a story: Nothing of the llke ever happen'dsince, nor did I eversee past ten in a Flock together that I remember. I am not fond of such Stories,and' had suppressedthe relatingof it, but that I have heard the samefrom very many." • Ibid., pp. 63 and 237. 2Clayton, John. A Le•ter from Mr. John Clayton to the Royal Society May 12, 1688, Giving an Account of several Observables in Virginia, etc., p. 30. Vol. 1910XXVII] j A. H. WRiGhT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 433

In 1698, Hennepin, the first to describeNiagara Falls, says• the lower Mississippi"Country affords all sorts of Game, as Turkey-Cocks..... , and Wood Pidgeons;.... " And, on his return eastwardfrom Niagara he says, "We had still Fourscore Leaguesto go upon the Lake Ontariobefore we cou'd arrive at Fort Catarokouri or Fro'ntenac;.... We wanted then neither Powder nor Shot, and thereforeshot at random all that we met, either small Birds,or Turtles, and Wood-Pigeons,which were then coming from Foreign Countries in so great Numbers, that they did appearin the Air like Clouds." This sameyear (1698), Gabriel Thomas in "An Historical and GeographicalAccount of the Province and Country of Pensil- vania and West New Jersey in America. London, 1698," finds (p. 13) "in (the) placethere are an Infinite Numberof Seaand Land Fowl, of most sorts. viz. Swans..... Pidgeons..... " Three years later CharlesWolley in "A Two Years Journal in New York. London, 1701," (New York ed., 1860, p. 37) practi- cally repeats the same observation,namely, "They have great store of wild-fowl,as Turkeys..... Pigeons..... " Sometime passesbefore we cometo Daniel Coxe's"A Descrip- tion of the English Province of Carolina, etc. London, 1726" wherewe have the following•2nd edit., p. 79/: "Great companies of Turkies..... Pidgeons..... " Again in 1732, "A Letter From South Carolina,etc.," speaksmuch to the sameeffect •2nd edit., London,p. 13/: "There are.... great variety of Wild-Fowl, as Turkeys..... wild Pigeons,...." In 1744 Charlevoix'in his History of New France enumerates the wild pigeonsas occurringin Florida• but only once,• speaks of them in detail. "The pigeonsare there (New France/, as else- where, birds of passage. A missionaryobserved, in an Iroquois canton, that every morning, from six o'clock till eleven, the air abovethe gorgein the river, abouta quarterof a leaguewide, was seen to be completelydarkened by the numberof these birds; that afterwardsthey all. descendedto bathe in a large pondnear

• t/ennepin, L. A I•ew Discovery of a Vast Country in America, etc. London, 1698, pp. 137, 225. • Charlevoix, Rev. P. F. X. De. History of •ew France, 1744. Translated by J. G. Shea. New York, 1866. Vol. I, p. 140. • Ibid., Vol. II, p. 192. 434 A.H. WmcI•T,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. kOct.[Auk by, and then disappeared. He adds,that only the malesare then seen,but that the fenrolescome in the afternoonto go throughthe same manoeuvre." On his journey from Pennsylvania to Owego, John Bartram in 1743 foundnorth of Oswego,N.Y. • "all the treeswere erouded with wild pigeons,which, I suppose,breed in these lofty shade trees." Shortly afterwards Peter Kalm, a Swedishnaturalist, spent three yearsin travel in North America(1747-1750). In his "Travels into North America" he twicespeaks of the wild pigeons. First duringOctober, 1748, he observes2 that "In the samemanner I have seenwild Pigeons,which were made so tame as to fly out and return again. In somewinters there are immensequantities of wild pigeonsin Pensylvania." The other note a comes in March, 1749, when "Wild Pigeons(Columba migratoria), flew in the woods,in numbersbeyond conceptionand I was assuredthat they weremore plentiful than they had beenfor severalyears past. They came this week, and continuedhere for about a fortnight, after which they all disappeared,or advancedfurther into the country, from whence they came. I shall speak of them more particularly in another place." This "another place" must be in someother writingsof Kaita than his Travels for I searched thesewith this expresslyin view. Someten yearslater, the Rev. AndrewBernshy, while travelling from Rhode Island to Boston in the month of September, says:4 "During the courseof my ride from Newport I observedpro- digiousflights of wild pigeons: they directedtheir coursesouth- ward, and the hemispherewas never intirely free from them. They are birds of passage,of beautiful plumage,and are excellent eating. The accountsgiven of their numbersare almostincred- ible; yet they are so well attested, and opportunitiesof proving the truth of them are so frequent,as not to admit of their being

* Bartram, John. Observations on the Inhabitants, etc., in Travels from Pen- silvania to Lake Ontario, London, 1751, p. 36. • Kalm, Peter. Travels in•o North America. Translated into English by J. R. Forster. Warrington, 1770. Vol. I, p. 210. a Ibid.. Vol. II, p, 82. • Bernaby, Rev. Andrew. Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America in the years 1759 and 1760. London, 1798. 3rd edition, pp. 101, 102. Vol. 1910XXVII] j A. H. WRmI•T,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 435 called in question. Towards eveningthe,v generallysettle upon trees, and sit one upon another in suchcrowds, as sometimesto break down the largestbranches. The inhabitantsat suchtimes, go out with long poles,and knock numbersof them on the head upon the roost; for they are either so fatigued by their flight, or terrified by the obscurity of the night, that they will not move, or take wing, without somegreat and uneommonnoise to alarm them. I met with scarcelyany other food at the ordinarieswhere I put up: and during their flight, the commonpeople subsist almostwholly upon them." About two years later (May, 1762), AlexanderHenry on a trip from Michilimackinacto Sault de Sainte-Mariefound • "Pigeons were in great plenty." In the period from 1763 to 1795 occur three short notes. In 1766, William Stork givesus "An Accountof East Florida, etc. London, 1766," but abstainsfrom giving any data or storiesabout the pigeonbecause (p. 51), "The wild pigeons,for three months in the Year, are in suchPlenty here, that an accountof them would seemincredible." In 1778, J. Carver, London, wrote his "Travels through the Interior Parts of North America in the years 1766, 1767, and 1768," and 1802, Anthony Haswell, Bennington, Vt., publishedthe "Memoirs and Adventuresof Capt. Matthew Phelps, 1773-1780." Both (the first on p. 466, the second,Appendix, p. 55) merely mention the pigeonsas among the birds recordedon their respectivetrips. At the very last of the eighteenthcentury Isaac Weld, Junior, spent the years 1795, 1796 and 1797 in travels in North America. While on a trip from Montreal to Kingstonin the month of Sep- tember,he remarks• that "As we passedalong, we had excellent diversionin shootingpigeons, several large flights of whichwe met with in the woods. The wild pigeonsof Canada are not unlike the commonEnglish wood pigeons, except that they are of a much smaller size; their flesh {s very well flavored. During particular

• Henry, Alexander. Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Terri- tories Between the Years 1760 and 1776. New ed., by James Bain. Boston, 1901, p. 63. 2 Weld, Isaac, Junior. Travels through the States of North America, etc. During the years 1795, 1796, 1797. London, 1799. 2d edition, Vol. II, pp. 42, 43, 44. 436 A.H. WRmHT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. t0c•.[Auk years, thesebirds comedown from the northernregions in flights that it is marvellousto tell of. A gentlemanof the town of Niagara assuredme, that onceas he was embarkingthere on board ship for Toronto, a flight of them was observedcoming from that quarter; that as he sailed over Lake Ontario to Toronto forty milesdistant from Niagara,pigeons were seen flying over head the whole way in a contrarydirection to that in which the ship pro- eeeded; and that on arriving at the place of his destination,the birds were still observedcoming down from the north in as large bodies as had been noticed at any one time during the whole voyage; supposing,therefore, that the pigeonsmoved no faster than the vessel,the flight, accordingto this gentleman'saccount, must at least have extended eighty miles. Many personsmay think this story surpassingbelief; for my own part, however, I do not hesitateto give credit to it, knowingas I do, the respecta- bility of the gentlemanwho related it, and the accuracyof his observation. When these birds appear in such great numbers, they often light on the bordersof rivers and lakes, and in the neighborhoodof farm houses,at whichtime they are so unwary, that a man with a short stick might easilyknock them down by hundreds. It is not oftener than once in seven or eight years, perhaps,that suchlarge flocks of thesebirds are seenin the country. The yearsin whichthey appearare denominated'pigeon years'." The first note in the nineteenth century comes the first year, when AlexanderHenry, in his journal, writes, Apr. 11, 1800, that, "I embarkedin my canoefor Portage la Prairie. Weather ex- cessivelyhot. Wild pigeonspassing N. in great abundance." Again, on the 23rd of April, 1802,.when on the east sideof the Red River he says• "River clearof ice. Pigeonspassing N." "The Expeditionsof ZebulonMontgomery Pike," by the same editor,2 showsthat Pike on a trip from Leech River to St. Louis, April 28, 1806,"Stopped at someislands about ten milesabove Salt River, where there were pigeon-roosts,and in about 15 min- utesmy menhad knockedon the headand brought on board298.

t ttenry, Alexander, The Manuscript Journals of. By Elliott Coues. Three vols., New York, 1897. Vol. I, pp. 4 and 195. 2Pike, Zebulon Montgomery, The Expeditions of,'During the Years 1805-6-7. New Edition. By Elliott Coues. 3 vols. New York, 1895. Vol. I, p. 212. Vol. 1910XXVII] j A. H. WInGaT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 437

I had frequently heard of the fecundity of this bird and never gave credit to what I then thought inclined to the marvellous; but really the most fervid imagination cannot conceive their numbers. Their noisein the woodswas like the continuedroaring of the wind, and the groundmay be saidto have beenabsolutely coveredwith their excrement. The young oneswhich we killed were nearly as large as the old; they could fly about ten steps, and were one mass of fat; their eraws were filled with acorns and the wild pea. They were still reposingon their nests,which were merely s•nall bunchesof sticks joined, with which all the small trees were covered. Met four canoes of the Sacs, with wicker baskets filled with young pigeons. They made motions to ex- changethem for liquor, to whichI returnedthe backof my hand." Later, in the sameyear, we have another note of interest when Thomas Ashe, while at Erie, Pa., in December, 1806, finds the samefondness for salt springswhich the Jesuitsremarked in 1656. He writes• as follows: "The salt lake and springsare also fre- quentedby all the other kinds of beasts,and even by birds; and from the most minute enquiries,I am justified in assertingthat their visitationswere periodical; except doves,which appear to delightin the neighborhoodof impregnatedsprings, and to make them their constantabode. In such situationsthey are seenin immensenumbers, as tame as domesticpigeons, but rendered moreinteresting by their solitarynotes and plaintive melody." The succeedingyear Pursh makesa botanicalobservation which is interestingin this connection. When at Martin Creek,Pa., he says:2 "This morningI took an excursionaccompanied by--- who wanted to show•ne the Leek or Pigeonpea, as he callsit .... The Pigeon berriesor Pigeon peaswe could not find, untill we re- turned to the house, where a place was where they commonly grow: in bowingup someground they showedme the roots by whichI found them, to be probablynothing else, than the tuber- eulis of a speciesof Glyeine, resemblingmarrowfat peas very much: the pigeonsseraeh them up at certaintimes of the year and feed upon the•n very greedyly."

• Ashe, Thomas, Esq. Travels in America. Performed in 1806. I•ondon, 1808, pp. 49, 50. 2 Pursh, Frederick, Journal of. The Gardener's Monthly, Vol. XI, pp. 14, 15. 438 A.H. WinouT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. LOot.[Auk

At the same ti•ne, JamesMease discusses• the pigeon at some length. "The coIumbamigratoria, or commonwild pigeonof the United States, winters in the woods of the southern states and Florida,and pass over to theBahama Islands. After their return in the Autumn to their Winter quarters,they sometimes,in mild Winters, remain in the middle and northernstates. During the present season(1806-7), which, upon the whole, has not been severe, they were occasionallyseen in our markets. The rev. Mr. Hall givesus the followingcurious account of the pigeonroosts in the Mississippiterritory. "'Another curiosity,which occurred to my view, was the pigeon roost on a branchof Big Black, about sixty milesbelow the Chieka- saw nation. An account of the phenomenonthere exhibited, earties with it such an air of the marvellous, that, had I been the only spectator,it would have been passedover in silence. The pigeonshad taken their station in and about a place known by the name of the Hurricane Swamp. The greater part of the large timber had beenblown down, and they had perchedon the branches of the small timber that remained; and which, being broken by them, now hung down like the inverted bush of a broom. Under each tree and sappling,lay an astonishingquantity of dung, of which, from the specimenswe saw, there must have been not only hundreds,but thousands,of waggonloads. Round each resting place was an hillock raised a considerableheight above the surface, although the substancehad been there eighteen months when we made our observationson the place. At that time the heapswere, no doubt, greatly sunk. What boundsthey occupied we could not ascertainas the swampwas so full of bramblesand fallen timber that we could not leave the road. It is near a mile in diameter; and as far as I can recollect, their traces were the chief part of the way, and about an hundred paceson the north sideof the swamp.' "To give an idea of the number and weight of these pigeons, Nit. H. then relates, that a hickory tree, of more than a foot in diameter, was alighted on by so many of these birds, that its top was bent down to the ground, and its roots started a little on the

• Mee•se, James. A GeologicM Account of the United Ste•tes, etc. Phile•- delphia, 1807, pp. 3417-3149. Vol.1910 XXVII' jI A. H. WmGttT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 439 oppositeside, so as to raise a bank. Trees of a brittle structure were often broken off by them. "We leave our readersto ponderthese things without comment of OURS. "The Rev. Mr. Harris, of Massachusetts,in his 'Tour to the State of Ohio,' gives an account equally curious, of the pigeon roosts of that state." The "Mr. Harris" of whom Mease speaksis ThaddeusMason Harris who "Made in the Springof the Year 1803," "A Tour into the Territory Northwest of the Alleghany Mountains." His account• of the pigeonroosts follows: "The vast flightsof pigeons in this country seem incredible. But there is a large forest in Waterford, containing several hundred acres, which has been killed in consequenceof their lighting upon it during the autumn of 1801. Suchnumbers lodged upon the trees that they broke off largelimbs; and the groundbelow is covered,and in someplaces a foot thick, with their dung, which has not only killed all the under- growthbut all the treesare deadas if they had beengirdled. "This accountwhich I receivedfrom crediblepersons at Water- ford when I was there, May 13, 1803 is confirmedby a letter written me since my return, 'by my much-esteemedfriend, the Rev. Mr. Story, dated Marietta, June 3, 1803. 'I have visit two pigeon roosts,and have heard of a third. Those I have seenare astonishing. One is supposedto cover one thousandacres: the other is still larger. The destructionof timber and brush on such tracts of land by these small animals is almost incredible. How many millions of them must have assembledto effect it! especiallyas it was done in the courseof a few weeks! A more particularstatement will be given this subjectin a communication I intendmaking, agreeably to your request,to the AmericanAcad- emy of Arts and Sciences.'" In 1810 (April 18), John Bradbury, while proceedingto the country around the Naduet River 2 ,, soondiscovered that pigeons werein the woods. I returnedand exchangedmy rifle for a lowling

• Mason, Thaddeus Mason. The Journal of A Tour into the Territory North- west of the Alleghany Mountains; Made in the Spring of the Year 1803, etc. Boston, 1805, pp. 179, 180. 2 Bradbury, John. Travels in the Interior of America in the Years 1809, 1810, 1811, etc. Liverpool, 1817, pp. 44, 45. 440 A. I-I.WRm}•T, Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. [oct.I-Auk piece, and in a few hours shot 271, when I desisted. I had an opportunitythis day of observingthe mannerin which they feed; it affordsa most singularspectacle, and is also an exampleof the rigid disciplinemaintained by gregariousanimals. This speciesof pigeon associatesin prodigiousflocks: one of theseflocks, when on the ground,will coveran area of severalacres in extent, and are so closeto eachother that the groundcan scarcelybe seen. This phalanx moves through the woods with considerablecelerity, picking up as it passesalong, every thing that will servefor food. It is evident that the foremost ranks must be the most successful, and nothing will remain for the hindermost. That all •nay have an equal chance,the instant that any rank becomesthe last, they rise, and flying over the whole flock, alight exactly ahead of the foremost. They succeedeach other with so much rapidity, that there is a continued stream of the•n in the air; and a side view of them exhibits the appearanceof the segmentof a large circle,moving'through the woods. I observedthat they ceaseto look for fooda considerabletime beforethey becomethe last rank, but strictly adhere to their regulations,and never rise until there are none behind them." In 1819,Fenton, while in the Illinois country,found, • "hawks, buzzards,and pigeonsin tolerablequantities." Aboutthe sametime, the famousSchoolcraft, 2 "in walkingalong someparts of the shore,observed a great number of the skeleton and half-consumedbodies of the pigeon,which, in crossingthe lake, is oftenovertaken by severetempests, and compel!edto alight upon the water, and thus drowned,in entire flocks,which are soonthrown up along the shores. This causesthe shoresof Lake Michigan to be visited by vast numbersof buzzards,-eagles and other birds of prey. The Indians also make use of these pigeons,as food, when they are first driven ashore,pres'erving suchin smoke,as they havenot immediateoccasion for." Two yearslater Howison writes 3 of thepigeon as follows: "Long

• Fearon, Henry Bradshaw. Sketches of America: etc. London, 1819. 3rd edition, p. 257. • Schoolcraft: Henry R. Narrative Journal of Travels from Detroit Northwest .... in the year 1820. Albany, 1821, p. 381 (Aug. 25). a Howlson, John. Sketches of Upper 12artaria. Edinburgh, 1822. 2rid' edi- tion, pp. 174, 175. Vol. 191oXXVII] j A. H. WInGuT,Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. 4z]:l

Point aboundswith game of 'variouskinds .... Immenseflocks of the passengeror wild pigeon,frequent this and otherparts of UpperCanada during the springand autumn; and myriadsof themare killedby firearms,or caughtin netsby the inhabitants; for they fly soclose, and in suchnumbers, that twentyor thirty may sometimesbe broughtdown at a singleshot." In 1827John Lee Williamsin "A View of West Florida" (p. 30)gives the "Pigeon-- Columba migratoria " -- as"rare". Again, in 1837, in "The Territory of Florida, etc. New York. 1837" (p. 74) he says,"This kindis not sonumerous in general,as the turtle dove,and grounddove." A moreor lessextended characterization of the speciescomes in 1829,when Maeauleywrote • the followingsumnmry: "The pigeonis a migratorybird. In springthey passto the north, wherethey spendthe summer,and in autumnthey returnto the south,where they spendthe winter. The periodsof their arrival and departureare not well defined. Sometimesthey comeas early as the latter part of March, whileat othertimes, a month later. This seemsto dependon the season,their arrivalbeing earlieror later, accordingto the forwardnessor backwardnessof the spring. They passin their periodicalmigrations, in flocks, which vary greatly in numbers. Someextend a mile or two in length, and consistof a countlessmultitude, while othersare small. The flocksare oftenseen following each other in quick succession,and at shortintervals. Thesemigrations frequently continuefor severaldays. After their arrival, they remain in flocks,for a shorttime, and then disperse in pairsin orderto breed. Theybuild their nests on trees,and usually have two young at a time. They hatchevery month. They subsiston mast,wheat, peas,oats, rye, and insects.... They are rather smallerthan the domesticpigeon, and are good food. The domesticand wild pigeondo notbreed together. The accountswhich are given of the numberof pigeonsin the uncultivatedcountry, will appear almostincredible to thosewho have neverseen their nests. Some- timesthey occupy several hundred acres with their nests. Twenty, and even thirty nestshave been countedon one tree."

• Macauley,James. The Natural, Statisticaland Civil Itistory of the State of New York. New York, 1829. 3 vols. Vol. I, pp. 495, 496. 442 A. YI.WRiGhT, Early Records ofthe Passenger Pigeon. [Auk[oct.

In 1832, Timothy Flint reinarkst that, "Pigeonssometimes are seen in great flocks. Their social and gregarioushabits in- cline them to roost together,and their placesof resort are called 'pigeon roosts.' In these placesthey settle on all the trees for a considerabledistance around, in such numbers, as to break off the branches." In the sameyear, Vigne notes: "the woodcock,snipe, pigeons and wild fowl, in great abundance,"and says,"I amusedmyself with shootingpigeons which are to be found on the island (Macki- nac) in great numbers. I was quite surprisedat the extraordinaw facility and quicknessof eye, with which my guide, half Indian and half Canadian,discovered them sitting in the thickestfoliage." Some years later Hugh Murray gives"• a more pertinent note when he marvels at the numbersin the pigeon flocks. "But no bird equalsin numberthe wild pigeonswhich, at particular seasons, move in vast flocks, or rather swarms, that darken the air like locusts. A body of them once hoveredthree or four days over the capital, when a continuedwar was carried on against them by all who could musterfire-arms of any description. The leath- ered tribes, in unfrequentedplaces, fall easy victims, owing to their having no fear of man." And, finally, in 1844, Featherstonhaughin an "Excursion throughThe Sla.veStates" :4 ,, A new and very interestingspectacle presenteditself, in the incrediblequantities of wild pigeonsthat were abroad; flocks of them many miles long came acrossthe country, one flight succeedingto another, obscuringthe daylight, and in their swift motioncreating a wind, and producinga rushing and startlingsound, that cataractsof the first classmight be proud of. These flights of wild pigeonsconstitute one of the most re- markable phenomenaof the western country. I rememberonce, when amongstthe Indians, seeingthe woodsloaded from top to

x Flint, Timothy. The Itistory and Geography of the Mississippi Valley. Second edition. Cincinnati, 1832. Vol. I, p. 73. 2 Vigne, Godfrey T. Six Months in America. 2 vols. London, 1832. Vol. I, p. 89; vol. 1I, p. 115. s Murray, Itugh. An Itistorical and Descriptive Account of British America. 3 vols. Edinburgh, 1839. Vol. I, t). 350. • Featherstonhaugh, G.W. Excursion through The Slave States. New York, 1844, p. 88 (Arkansas). Vol. 1910XXVII] j SnEaMAI%Brewster's Warbler in Massachusetts.443

bottom with their nests for a great number of miles, the heaviest branchesof the trees broken and fallen to the ground,whleh was strewed with the young birds dead and alive, that the Indians in great numberswere picking up to carry away with their horses; many of their dogswere •aid to be gonemad with feedingupon ß their putrifled remains. A forest thus loaded and half destroyed with thesebirds, presentsan extraordinaryspectacle which can- not be rivalled; but when suchmyriads of timid birds as the wild pigeonare on the wing, often wheelingand performingevolu- tions almostas complicatedas pyrotechnicmovements, and ereat- ing whirlwindsas they move,they presentan imageof the most fearful power. Our horse, Missouri, at such times, has been towed by them, that he would standstill and tremblein his harness, whilst we ourselveswere glad when their flight was directedfrom 11S?'

THE BREWSTER'S WARBLER IN MASSACHUSETTS.

BY JULIA WINGATE SHERMANß

EARLYSunday morning, May 19, 1907, my daughterand I wdnt on a bird-walk near our home in Roslindale,which is one of the many beautiful suburbsof Boston. When a short distance from the housewe hearda Golden-wingedWarbler givehis zec-zee- zee,as I then supposed.My daughternot having seenone that season,we steppedout of our path to take a look at the singer. Imaginemy surprise--not a GoldeR-wingedbut a finemale Brew- ster's Warbler was perchedbefore us. He sangover and over againhis high, lazily givensong which so closelyresembles that of the Golden-wingthat it couldeasily be mistakenfor it. On carefullistening, at closerange, it seemedhigher and finer in quality. This specimenwas in fine typical plumage,but was wholly white underneath. He kept for some time on a low, isolated,gray birch where he showedhimself in all lights. We continued our walk in the direction of Tom William's Pond.