406 Ray, A-Birding in an Auto. [oct^ 



the town from east to west, brings a fertility to the section which 

 has been greatly enhanced by man. 



May 23. — To Gorman Station, 60 miles. Additional species, 2. 



We started at exactly noon to-day by the town clock; soon 

 after the habitations on the outskirts faded away and we again 

 Went forth into the desert country. A large curious racing lizard 

 (Crotaphytus ivislizeni) that scampered along with us at an amaz- 

 ing speed was very common. As we sped along myriads of grass- 

 hoppers took wing, flying just about high enough to be scooped 

 into the moving car. Hundreds lit on the radiator, which was 

 intensely hot from the heat above as well as below, and per- 

 ished. Horned Larks remained our only bird friends, but they 

 made up in abundance for what the avifauna lacked in variety. 

 After leaving Rose Station we began the ascent of the great range 

 of mountains which rose before us on the south. Owing to the 

 absence of sign-boards and the lack of information imparted by 

 the way-house keepers, who looked askance at a steed which 

 required neither a barn nor hay, we made a mistake, and instead 

 of taking the newly built road, we took an old one leading up the 

 canon. This was more direct but very steep in places, to ascend 

 which it was necessary to do what is termed 'jumping.' The 

 engine is run at the highest speed and the power quickly thrown 

 in, which causes the car to bolt ahead. In this way, -by degrees, 

 we went up until suddenly the machine, unable to proceed with 

 the -load, started down the grade, and before the brakes could be 

 applied, veered to the side of the narrow road and hovered on the 

 brink of the precipice. I can still see that little stream curling 

 along perhaps a thousand feet below and nothing between but 

 space. Through sheer luck we were able, at the critical point, 

 to turn the automobile in on the road, the wheels just rolling 

 along the edge of the cliff. But the experience of that awful 

 moment taught us a lesson never to be forgotten. After strip- 

 ping the car of its burden, which we carried to the top of the 

 grade, and reloading, we proceeded on our way. 



The Fort Tejon country, a famous landmark in the early orni- 

 thological history of California, was perhaps the most interesting 

 on the trip; here the cool green meadows and mountain timber, 

 with the attendant bird life, were in striking contrast with the arid 



