. Fourteen weeks in zoology. Zoology. 138 SUBEllfGDOM VERTEBKATA. numbers as to load with nests every tree in a forest forty miles long. Each nest ^' ^^ ' contains two eggs, hatch- ing usually a male and female, which are believed to pair afc maturity. The male often makes daily excursions of a hundred miles to procure food.* Many millions being thus congregated, it is astonish- ing how each bird in re- turning should go straight to its own mate and Ectopistes ?nigratoria, Passenger Pigeon. \. ORDER GALLIN.^. General Characteristics. — This order includes the hen-like birds. They genera
. Fourteen weeks in zoology. Zoology. 138 SUBEllfGDOM VERTEBKATA. numbers as to load with nests every tree in a forest forty miles long. Each nest ^' ^^ ' contains two eggs, hatch- ing usually a male and female, which are believed to pair afc maturity. The male often makes daily excursions of a hundred miles to procure food.* Many millions being thus congregated, it is astonish- ing how each bird in re- turning should go straight to its own mate and Ectopistes ?nigratoria, Passenger Pigeon. \. ORDER GALLIN.^. General Characteristics. — This order includes the hen-like birds. They generally have feeble powers of flight, * Their speed is very great. Pigeons have been killed near New York with their crops full of rice, which must have been eaten in the plantations of Georgia and Carolina, six or seven hundred miles distant. As Ihey would digest grain in twelve hours, they must have traveled a mile per minute. They fly in enormous columns miles in length and width. It is estimated that such a flock would require millions of bushels of food each day. Andubon gives a vivid description of a resting-place on Green Kiver, Kentucky. He says : " The noise which they made reminded me of a strong sea-breeze amongst the cordage of a ship. When they passed above my head I felt a current of air which astonished me. Thousands were already struck down by meli armed with poles, but they continued to arrive without intermission. Fires were lighted. The birds precipitated themselves in masses, and pitched where they could, one upon the other, in large heaps like barrels. Then the branches gave way undei' the weight, cracked and fell, bringing to the ground and crushing the closely- packed flocks, which covered every part of the trees. It was a scene of tumult and confusion. In vain I tried to speak, or even to call the persons nearest to me. It was with difficalty that I could hear the guns fire, and I only perceived the men had fired by seeing them reload their arms. Pii^
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1872
