The Mesquite Canyon quail and his family 
were no more fortunate than thousands of other 
father quails and their families, and, it may be 
added, their troubles were perhaps no greater. 
Some of them perished while others survived. 
These in due time won mates of their own who 
laid many spotted eggs and later led families of 
young about the desert, or of evenings gathered 
them to the rims of water-holes. 
In the barren cactus deserts where few people 
come there are many birds and animals, and 
the frolics and fights, as well as all the singing, 
calling, love-making, and killing, are largely 
carried on by the wild folk of this thorny land. 
This is the way it has been for centuries, for 
not many people can live in the desert where 
water is so scarce; and this is the way things 
are sure to go on for many long years to come. 
Many of the things that went on in the region 
of the Mesquite Canyon were witnessed by the . 
quail and his family, though, to tell the truth, 
they paid little attention to what happened so 
long as danger did not threaten them. 
The morning after the sheep-man came into 
196 
