VISIT OF THE PASSENGER-PIGEON TO THE CANADAS.—CANADIAN
BLACKBIRDS.—BREEDING-PLACES OF THE PASSENGER-PIGEONS.—SQUIRRELS.
The passenger-pigeon[1] visits the Canadas in the early spring-months,
and during August, in immense flocks, bringing with them an agreeable
change in the diet of the settler.
[1] The passenger-pigeon is not so large as the wild pigeon of Europe.
It is slender in form, having a very long-forked tail. Its plumage is
a bluish-grey, and it has a lovely pink breast. It is, indeed, a very
elegant bird.
Persons unacquainted with the country and the gregarious habits of this
lovely bird, are apt to doubt the accounts they have heard or read
respecting their vast numbers: since my return to England I have
repeatedly been questioned upon the subject. In answer to these
queries, I can only say that, in some parts of the province, early in
the spring and directly after wheat-harvest, their numbers are
incredible. Some days they commence flying as soon as it is light in
the morning, and continue, flock after flock, till sun-down. To
calculate the sum-total of birds passing even on one day, appears to be
impossible. I think, the greatest masses fly near the shores of the
great Canadian lakes, and sometimes so low, that they may be easily
killed with a horse-pistol, or even knocked down with a long pole.
During the first spring in which I resided at Goderich, the
store-keeper was out of shot, and the pigeons happened to be uncommonly
numerous. I had a large fowling-piece with a wide bore; so I tried a
charge of fine shingle off the beach at the first flock that came
within close range, and had the satisfaction of bagging seven birds at
the first shot—indeed, it was almost impossible to miss them, they flew
in such thick clouds. I have frequently killed on the stubbles, from
twenty to thirty at one shot.
Directly after the wheat is carted, the pigeons alight on the stubble
in vast flocks. As they are chiefly the young broods, they are very
easily approached: the sportsman should creep up behind them; for they
are so intent on feeding, that they will seldom notice his approach
till he is within fair range of them.
The hindmost ranks are continually rising from the ground, and dropping
in front of the others. This is the proper time to fire, just as the
hind-rank are a couple or three feet from the ground; firing the second
barrel as the whole flock takes fight.
In the vicinity of the towns, sometimes a regular _battue_ takes place,
when all kind of firearms are in requisition, from the old Tower musket
to the celebrated Joe Manton.
In July, the pigeons feed a great deal on wild berries, such as
raspberries, huckle-berries, blue-berries, and a variety of other
kinds. Many people would naturally think that such vast flocks of birds
would alight on the standing grain, and destroy the crop: such,
however, is not the case. Sometimes, during the seed-time in the
spring, they are a little troublesome; but I have never known them
alight on the ripening grain. The Canadian blackbirds are far more
destructive in that particular—especially that species with the
orange-bar across the wings. These birds alight on the Indian corn
crops and oats in such numbers, that they do a great deal of damage,
particularly the oats, which they break down by their weight.
There is another kind of blackbird, smaller than the former, and
speckled very much like a starling. Indeed, I believe it is a species
of that bird; for it frequents marshes, and lodges amongst the reeds at
night. This bird is also destructive in the corn-fields.
There is yet a third species of blackbird, larger than either of the
above, whose colour is of a glossy blue-black, very like our rooks.
These birds are just as troublesome as the rest; but it must be
admitted that their destroy an immense quantity of caterpillars and
grubs. They are easily frightened away by firing a few shots. There is,
however, no doubt but that they are a greater plague to the farmers
than the pigeons: besides, the latter are excellent eating.
I once accompanied the Doctor on an exploring expedition through the
tract. We encamped close to a breeding-place of these birds, when we
were kept awake all night by the noise they made. Sometimes, too, a
limb of a tree would break with the weight of the birds which had
alighted on it, when there would be such fluttering and flapping of
wings, as made it impossible for us to sleep.
Towards morning, the sound of their departure to their feeding-grounds
resembled thunder. For nearly two hours there was one incessant roar,
as flock after flock took its departure eastward. The ground under the
trees was whitened with their excrement, and strewn with broken
branches of trees.
The Americans have a plan of capturing these birds, by means of a
decoy, or stool-pigeon, and nets. Thousands are often taken in this way
during seed-time in the spring. When I first resided in the township of
Douro, the pigeons used to be very plentiful at that time, their chief
breeding-place being in the township of Fenelon, in a direct line west
from my residence, some forty or fifty miles. And yet, soon after
day-light, they would be passing eastward over my clearing, so vast is
their swiftness and strength on the wing.
It is a curious fact that, although thousands passed daily for many
days in succession, yet not one of them returned by the same route they
went. I have been informed that this breeding-place has been deserted
for several years, owing to the settlements having approached too near
to please the winged possessors.
This satisfactorily accounts for the decrease I have noticed amongst
these feathered denizens of the forest, during the last seven or eight
years. In consequence of their having been disturbed, they have sought
a more remote breeding-place. I am not at all certain whether this
decrease is general through the province; but I feel quite convinced
that, as civilization increases, all kinds of birds and wild animals
will become less numerous, with the exception of crows and mice, which
are greatly on the increase. Rats also have been imported, and appear
to thrive well in the towns; though, I am happy to say, they have not
found their way into my township yet—and long may they be ignorant of
my location.
There is also another animal, which I think is more numerous than
formerly—I mean the black squirrel. These pretty little creatures are
very destructive amongst the Indian-corn crops. I have seen them
carrying off a whole cob of corn at once, which I will be bound to say
was quite as heavy as themselves.
The form of this animal is very elegant; the colour jet black—with a
large bushy tail: the fur, however, is too open to be of any value. The
flesh is excellent eating, far superior to that of the rabbit. In a
good nut-season, in the western part of the province, the quantity of
these animals is almost incredible.
I have heard old hunters say that, if the squirrels are numerous in the
summer, the bears will be plenty in the fall, and also that their
numbers give a sure indication of a severe winter. This saying, I
believe to be true; because neither the squirrels nor bears are
plentiful, unless there is an abundant supply of beech-mast,
butter-nuts, hickory-nuts, &c., which Providence has kindly provided in
more superabundant quantity on the approach of a longer and severer
winter than usual.
Besides the _Niger_, or black squirrel, there are three other species
in Canada West; first, the _Cinereus_, or grey squirrel, which is
larger than the black squirrel. Its fur is something better, but the
animal is not near so numerous. Secondly, the _Ruber_, or red squirrel,
smaller than the last, but equally destructive.
The chitmunck, or _Siriatus_, or ground squirrel, is much smaller and
more mischievous than any of the former species. The ridge of the back
is marked with a black stripe; the sides are of a reddish yellow,
spotted with white; the feet and legs pale red; the eyes black and
projecting. These pretty little creatures never run up trees, unless
they are pursued. They burrow and form their habitations under ground
with two entrances. During the maize-harvest, they fill their mouths so
full of corn that their cheeks distend to the size of a hen’s egg. The
chitmunck sometimes inhabits hollow trees and logs.
I have frequently cut down trees in which they had deposited their
winter-store, to the amount of half-a-bushel of beech-mast, Indian
corn, and grain of different descriptions. It is a very curious
circumstance that, before storing away for the winter, they carefully
skin every beechnut.
Towards the spring, when the days begin to be a little warm, they leave
their winter-holes and enter the barns—compelled, most probably, by the
failure of their winter-store. Great numbers are then destroyed by the
cats. Their fur is of little value, and their flesh uneatable.