SWAN LAKE. 1 67 



great number of swans. It is no exaggeration to say that there were on 

 this lake during my first visit not less than a thousand of these most 

 graceful birds. 



In numbers the black-necked species greatly predominated, but those 

 of a pure white color were not entirely wanting. Owing to the abun- 

 dance of these birds at this locality I have named this Swan Lake, and it 

 is so shown on the map. 



After spending several hours about Swan Lake, I proceeded to an 

 examination of the country to the eastward, the surface of which was found 

 to be entirely occupied by the great lava-sheet of the central plains region. 

 The lake had no outlet and it was quite evident that it had been formed 

 by the damming of an ancient watercourse, which formerly had extended 

 uninterruptedly from the present lake and valley above, through a deep 

 canon cut in the lava beds to the eastward. I traced the deep and narrow 

 valley of this now desiccated stream for several miles to the lava fields, 

 and, although immediately below the lake its channel is filled for a depth 

 of one hundred feet, or more, with sedimentary materials, it was quite evi- 

 dent that at some previous time it had formed the channel of a continuous 

 and not unimportant watercourse. 



In some exposures along the south side of the valley lying south of 

 Swan Lake I discovered a number of unimportant fossils, sufficient, how- 

 ever, to determine the beds to belong to the Santa Cruzian formation. 

 At night I camped in a thicket of calafate bushes by the side of a spring 

 some ten miles south of the lake, sleeping in my saddle-blanket and 

 slicker and dining off" the body of a red-breasted meadow lark grilled 

 over a bed of glowing coals. Hardly had I unsaddled and picketed 

 my horse when I was attracted by the peculiar and playful antics of a 

 specimen of the little gray fox. Cants azarcp. Attracted by the presence 

 of myself and horse, this beautiful animal had left his retreat and, 

 prompted by curiosity no doubt, came boldly up to within a distance of 

 some thirty or forty feet of me, where, in evident satisfaction with my 

 companionship, he ran and frisked about in a manner quite like that of a 

 favorite domestic dog, and much to my amusement. I permitted the sport 

 to continue for several minutes, then, drawing my revolver from its 

 scabbard, I despatched the beautiful animal and determined, as I had sus- 

 pected, that he was a young male, though scarcely less than an adult in 

 stature. 



