46 



THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



the rainfall is greater than that of the 

 desert regions. These rolling plains 

 are covered with a luxuriant growth 

 of grass upon which thousands of cat- 

 tle graze, congregating near water. 

 During the winter season water is 

 plenty, and but few cattle perish from 

 thirst. As the sun climbs higher and 

 the its rays become more intense these 

 water tanks begin to dry up. Cattle 

 are then forced to travel eight, ten or 

 a dozen miles to water, many are too 

 weak to travel and drop by the way- 

 side. The young Ravens are reared 

 on the flesh of these. 



In the vicinity of Fort Huachuca 

 Ravens were exceptionally numerous, 

 flying about the post without any 

 heed of danger. 



On the 28th day of May, driving 

 Southward from the Fort I saw a 

 Raven's nept firmly saddled in among 

 the hmbs of a small mesquite tree 

 growing near the road. The old 

 Raven flew away with deep cawings. 

 Driving up under the tree and by 

 standing up on the seat of the wagon 

 I could look into the nest, but there 

 were no eggs. I could but look after 

 the Raven and again into the nest to 

 be sure that my eyes did not deceive 

 me. So late in the season and no 

 eggs? Fourteen miles South of the 

 fort a camp was established and on 

 June ist I rode out upon the plains in 

 quest of Ravens' eggs. I examined 

 several groups of sycamore and no- 

 gales trees, and soon discovered a 

 Raven's nest away up among the top 

 branches of a large sycamore. After 

 much climbing I had the pleasure of 

 gazing upon a single egg, with the 

 disappointment of not finding the set 



complete. I did not care to repeat tha 

 climb and the one egg was carefully 

 packed, the return to ground resulting 

 in no misliap. All the Ravens for 

 miles aiound had in the meantime 

 collected about the nest being mo- 

 lested. 



The next nest examined contained 

 nothing, while others but one, two or 

 three eggs and I began to think that 

 I should get no full sets. Turning 

 my attention to a low growth of mes- 

 quite I outlined in the distance a nest 

 of large dimensions, and as 1 drew 

 neat a large black head protuded from 

 its depths. From this nest a hand- 

 some set of six eggs was taken; later 

 several more sets were collected, and 

 five of the birds. 



Some sets of Swainson's Hawk and 

 Roadrunner were also taken, and with 

 these I rode back to camp. June 5th 

 T was again among the Raven, from 

 eight in the morning until six in the 

 afternoon, riding many miles and col- 

 lecting fourteen sets of Ravens' eggs. 



Returning by the same road over 

 which I had traveled but two weeks 

 before, then no dead cattle were 

 to be noticed, now their inflated car- 

 casses could be seen at intervals that 

 were entirely too frequent. Ravens 

 and Vultures were enjoying the feast. 

 Now and then one would fly away to 

 its young with its beak full of meat 

 torn from the carcass. Species that 

 feed upon fruits lay their young and 

 have the young hatch at a time when 

 their favorite food is ripe. Such is 

 the case with the Pliainopepla that 

 feed upon the glutinous seeds of the 

 mistletoe. 



