The form of body of these swift
travellers is an elongated (lengthened) oval steered by a long,
well-plumed tail,"--just as you know, Harry, you steer your boat by
the rudder in the great tub of water; "they are furnished with
extremely well set muscular wings. If a single bird is seen gliding
through the woods and close by, it passes apparently like a thought,
and the eye, on trying to see it again, searches in vain--the bird
is gone."
The multitudes of pigeons in our woods are astonishing; and, indeed,
after having for years viewed them so often, under so many
circumstances, and I may add in many different climates, I even now
feel inclined to pause and assure myself that what I am going to
relate is fact.
In the autumn of 1813, I left my house in Henderson, on the banks of
the Ohio, on my way to Louisville. Having met the pigeons flying
from north-east to south-west in the barrens or natural wastes, a
few miles beyond Hardensburgh, in greater apparent numbers than I
had ever seen them before, I felt an inclination to count the flocks
that would pass within the reach of my eye in one hour. I
dismounted, and, seating myself on a little eminence, took my pencil
to mark down what I saw going by and over me; and I made a dot for
every flock which passed.
Pages:
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59