OASIS AND DESERT 



before us. Less than fifty yards away a company of two 

 or three hundred ducks were sunning themselves, all 

 crowded together on the bank. On a promontory still 

 nearer was a flock of seven or eight hundred White- 



GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CAPTIVE WILD BIRDS 



faced Glossy Ibises, many sleeping balanced on one leg, 

 others preening their feathers. Two large grebes, per- 

 haps the Western species, floating out near the middle 

 of the lake, completed the tale of the water-birds. 



Beyond a field of alfalfa, with its dense green foliage 

 shot with the blue flower-heads, was a stone wall, and 

 on this two great American Ravens were busily engaged 

 in feeding upon something which they held down with 

 their feet. At first glance w^e thought it must be the 



«4 75 -^ 



