1895II Local Natural History 



Once, it chanced, they came to shine 

 Straight into this heart of mine. 



Little lady, cease your play 

 For a moment, if you may; 

 All I ask is, silently, 

 Turn your mother's eyes on me! 



Consulado Ingles, Calle de las Olas Altas, Mazatlan, Sinaloa 

 January 10, 1895 



While in Mazatlan, we had the excellent services Tgnado 

 of a mestizo (halfbreed) fisherman, Ygnacio Moreno 

 by name. About the outlying islands, the Venados 

 especially, as well as in the hulk of a French man- 

 of-war sunk long since in the harbor by a hurricane, 

 Ygnacio exploded dynamite with rich results. I 

 must here explain that while the use of dynamite is 

 wisely forbidden to fishermen in all civilized regions, 

 a special license for scientific purposes was granted 

 us by the local authorities. 



One day as we were drawing a seine on the beach, Our 

 idlers crowded around and began to grab the fish. ^^'^J"^'", 

 Tom Williams, red-headed, muscular football center, 

 seized a young fellow by the shoulders and swung 

 him about in every direction, thus effectually dis- 

 persing the mob. From that time forward, hangers- 

 on had a wholesome fear of our gringo Colorado ^ 

 "red Yankee." 



On the tide flats beyond the Astillero (estuary) a 

 gathered a marvelous array of birds — long-legged If^-fj' 

 waders, herons and cranes, and swimmers such as 

 pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and ducks, besides high- 

 flying Tropic-birds and Frigates. In the market 

 several varieties of parrots were on sale. The 

 finest one we saw, "Loro Bonito," introduced in 



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