634 niRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. 



The surround in;;- country is piincipiilly " mesquite," with the poverty 

 of ve.n'e tabic growth which that expressiNC term usually implies, while 

 along the river the vegetation nourishes with almost tropical luxuriance. 

 As the intiuence of vegetation upon bird life is one of the most im- 

 portant elements of environment that go to modify habits, structure, 

 and coloration, 1 can not do better than quote from the admirable re- 

 port of Dr. V. Havard, XJ. S. A., on the Flora of Western and Southern 

 Texas (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., YIU, 1885, pp. 449-533). 



Speaking of the llora of the San Antonio Valley, he says : 



"The flora of the valley of the San Antonio Eiver, near its head, 

 where stands the town of San Antonio, being typical of that of the 

 many valleys which drain the surrounding country", I shall, at the risk 

 of repetition, describe it in detail: 



''Many trees and shrubs leaf in March, and during the same month 

 many native flowers can be collected. In April the vegetation is in its 

 prime; masses of luxuriant timber spread over the valley, thick shrub- 

 bery of various shades of green covers the uplands, and a sward of thin 

 but nutritious grass carpets the ground. The pale green of the mesquit- 

 clad hills, contrasting with the sombre foliage of the valley, is particu- 

 larly striking. In May plants begin to suffer from the hot and dry 

 atmosphere. Before August, when summer rains usually begin, the 

 scant grass has become inarched, the shrubbery temporarily withered, 

 and the timber dimmed with dust. The first showers, however, quicken 

 everything back to life. The winter temperature seldom falling below 

 20°, many ornamental shrubs prosper in gardens, and hardy rose-bushes 

 blossom all winter. 



"The Jiomely but useful mesquit {Proso2)is juUJiora), here, as every- 

 where in South and AVestern Texas, is predominant; it is mostly a shrub, 

 sometimes a stunted tree, and covers the slopes and many of the table- 

 lands. Mixed with it are the hardly less common Lote-bush [Zizyplius 

 ohfusifoUiis) and Brazil or Blue Wood {Condalia ohovafa), two Rhamna- 

 ceous shrubs growing together and similar in appearance. To the same 

 order belong also Rhammis Caroliniamis, a tall shrub in shady places, 

 and Coluhrinia Texensis, a low bush on higher ground near the head of 

 the river. 



"Perhaps the tree most characteristic of San Antonio, and the pride 

 of its inhabitants, is the Huisache {Acacia Farnesiana) which thrives 

 everywhere in the valley, filling the air in March and April with the 

 delicate i^erfume of its capitate, yellow flowers. Pretty also arc the 

 shrubby xlcacia amentacea and Kcemeriana growing on gravelly hills. 



"The other ligneous Leguminosne deserving mention are: The Frijo 

 lillo {So2)Jiora sccundijiora), a dark green shrub, on rocky grounds, with 

 thick bunches of rank violet flowers early in the spring, and poisonous 

 scarlet beans in summer; Sojihora affinis^ a small tree with green bark, 

 loosely-clustered flowers (in March) and beaded pod, the Retama {Parlc- 

 insonia aculcata), an elegant ornamental tree, more common on the lower 



