WWTBAM Bored

Reading "A Feathered River Across the Sky" about the Passenger Pigeon and its demise. Came across this passage.

>>>>>>While the college students of today have a plethora of things to keep them from their studies, they have been spared the allurement that tempted Samuel Cabot, who would later become a prominent physician and businessman.

As he walked across the Harvard College campus one spring day in the 1830s on his way to a recitation, he was entranced by flocks of pigeons streaming across the sky. No doubt fidgeting throughout the duration of his class, when it eventually ended, he headed straight to his room, where he picked up his gun and joined shooters on a nearby ridge. In a brief time he shot eighteen birds. 13

Greenberg, Joel (2014-01-30). A Feathered River Across the Sky: The Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction (Kindle Locations 1861-1865). BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING. Kindle Edition.

From the wood stain family?

Bob Juch wrote:From the wood stain family?

Might be his pappy or grandpappy. Wikipedia says the wood stain company was started by Samuel Cabot IV in 1877, and that he'd studied chemistry at MIT and Zurich Polytechnic.

[EDIT] a little more wikidigging came up with Sam III born in 1815, so the years would be right for the original passage about the passenger pigeons. This was a major family in the Boston area at that time.

One of those things that you have never thought of-but that make perfect sense when you hear it.

"Stool Pigeon" is apparently derived* from the use of previously captured passenger pigeons used to lure wild passenger pigeons to there death or capture. One of the tools used appears to be called a "Stool."

*Also may be related to capturing the other kind of pigeon (Roof Rats)-not 100% on the final source.

See also-"Clay Pigeons" and "Trap Shooting."