112 Audubon s Western Journal 



scarce, compared to the numbers we saw after 

 leaving Parras. 



Leaving this place we rode along a sandy bottom, 

 which in the rainy season is the bed of a torrent. 

 We left just before sunrise, and the heavy dew of 

 this country gave such a freshness to all vegetation 

 that nature seemed more luxuriant than ever. The 

 prairies at this season present to our view many 

 beautiful flowers, nearly all of a most delicate char- 

 acter, like primroses, larkspurs, sweet williams. 

 Nettles six feet high, their blue flowers almost 

 hiding the rich green of their stinging leaves, 

 extend, sometimes, for miles along the sand bars. 

 The cactus seems to have been left behind. We 

 now found quantities of mushrooms, looking like 

 the same species at home, and having the same 

 flavor both raw and cooked. 



The minerals I cannot speak of, but Dr. Trask 

 tells me that there is a good deal of silver, and 

 some gold in the earth mixed with quantities of 

 lead. The stone is sandstone, and now and then 

 we see most beautiful marbles, black and white, in 

 strata, as if laid by hand. 



We killed three pigeons today, and have seen 

 many, of what I take to be either Steller's Jay or 

 the ultramarine, but they are so shy, we cannot get 

 at them. One of "the boys" gave me two young 

 marmots, but I cannot place them, though the spots 

 are a good deal like the Mexican, but not regular 



