VOL. II.] Cape Region of Baja California. oe 189 
tell what became of one while the other was sitting. Several dead 
ones were picked up in the streets of San José del Cabo, having 
been killed by flying against the white walls of the houses. A few 
“late nests of this little dove were found with eggs, and one nest con- 
tained two large squabs; they always built in trees. The two other 
species of doves, the mourning and the white-winged, were com- 
mon, especially the latter species in the arroyos a few miles from 
town, they sat upon the tops of giant cactuses ( Cereus) and would 
allow one to approach near enough to shoot them with an auxiliary 
barrel of .32 calibre. Their flesh was fairly good, at least we en- 
joyed the change from tough beef and occasionally sent them to 
the kitchen, as well as other birds belonging to the waders. The 
white-faced glossy ibis ( Plegadis gaurana) was found in flocks along 
the river and on one occasion eleven were obtained from two shots; 
their flesh although Gark was juicy and palatable. The services of 
my Mexican boy were well needed the day I shot the eleven ibis, 
for they were some weight to carry and the wounded birds fell all 
around the vicinity, even in gardens, across the lagoon and in deep 
water, but he secured them all, being ably seconded by half a dozen 
of his companions who accompanied us for the pastime it was to 
them. On some days I have had upwards of a dozen small boys 
following me on my excursions towards the mouth of the river, but 
that was during the first days of my stay, and finding that there was 
no pay but only thanks to be had for their services they gradually 
dwindled in numbers from day to day until I was left alone with” 
Manuel. I can not think of that boy without praising him for his 
faithfulservice. The only time he failed was late one Sunday afternoon 
when thinking we would not be starting out at that hour he disap- 
peared from the door-way and Mr. Brandegee and myself went for a 
short stroll to a good bathing place in the river, after which, as the 
twilight drew nearer, we continued towards the mouth of the river, 
where, shut out from the ocean at low stages of water, the river 
‘broadens into a lagoon of varying depth as I ascertained that even- 
ing; a small flock of ibis came past at some distance and two were 
shot, one fell dead in a few inches of water and the other which was 
only wounded farther out; removing my moccasins and rolling up 
my pantaloons I secured the dead one, but the broken-winged bird 
had good swimming powers and kept just out of my reach and 
finally crossed to the opposite bank. By this time I was getting pretty 
