long-tailed
American pigeons, noted for their extended migratory flights, but extinct since 1914. Passenger pigeons are believed to have lived in greater
numbers than any other vertebrate (
having a
backbone) land
animal of which records exist, but were repeatedly slaughtered in the 1800s for US food markets during the height of their
breeding season.
—New Slant on Life Glossary Final approval 28.1.90