NO. 4 SAN JON DISTRICT, NEW MEXICO ROBERTS 5 



identification is based on only fleeting glimpses of the animal), skunks 

 (Mephitis mesomelas varians), rock squirrels {Citellus variegatus 

 grammuriis), striped and spotted ground squirrels {Citellus tridecem- 

 lineatus arenicola and Citellus spilosoma major), the hoary wood rat 

 (Neotoma micro pus canescens), and many kinds of small mice 

 abound. 



Birds are numerous in the locality and among those observed were : 

 Lark bunting {Calamospisa melanocorys), the cowbird (Molotlirns 

 ater ater) , mourning doves {Zenaidura macroura marginclla) , western 

 meadowlark {Sturnclla neglecta), horned lark (Otocoris alpestris 

 leucolaenia), western mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos leucopterus), 

 kingbird (Tyranmis tyrannus), cactus woodpecker (Dryobates sca- 

 laris cactophilus), pifion jay {Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus), cliff 

 swallow {Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons), western lark sparrow 

 {Chondestes grammacus strigatus), Arizona scaled quail {Callipepla 

 squamata pallida), road runner {Geococcyx calif ornianus), western 

 burrowing owl (Speotyto cunictdaria hypogaea), sparrow hawk 

 (Falco sparverius sparverius) , western redtail hawk {Bittco jamai- 

 censis calurns), nighthawks {Chordeiles minor henryi and Chordeiles 

 minor howclli) , Bullock's oriole {Icterus bidlocki bnUocki), and the 

 Cassin sparrow {Peucaca cassini). Wild turkeys formerly were abun- 

 dant along the Canadian near the Texas border but have not been 

 reported since the middle of the nineteenth century. They probably 

 were the eastern form {silvcstris) and had worked their way up the 

 river and into eastern New Mexico. 



There are several kinds of snakes, including the diamondback and 

 prairie rattlers, as well as a few lizards and the horned toad. From 

 the standpoint of the flora and fauna the district by and large is still 

 one that would hold considerable attraction for aboriginal peoples. 



The general problem was attacked from several angles. One per- 

 tained to the locating of archeological materials and discovering 

 what the associations were, if any, between different types of artifacts 

 and animal remains. In this connection there also was the matter of 

 determining to what extent the various kinds of stone tools and the 

 bones could be correlated with the several strata in the fill. Then 

 there was the question of a sequence in implement types and the 

 possibility of obtaining important information on the relationship 

 between the Yuma and points from already established cultural 

 horizons. Another phase consisted of a careful study of the material 

 in the fill in the basin at the main site, of deposits in the general 



