PIGEONS AND BEAR 65 



from them and watched them for some time. 

 They were the true passenger-pigeon (Ecto- 

 pistes migratorius) . I have no doubt whatever 

 of this, for every possible opportunity was of- 

 fered for observation. Later on two occasions 

 I saw passenger-pigeons in this section, and John 

 told me that he had sometimes seen them when 

 riding range, in small flocks of four or five 

 birds. 



This is in all probability the only region 

 where the wild pigeon, once so numerous, is to 

 be found to-day in the United States. So far as 

 North America is concerned, it is practically 

 an extinct species. The mourning dove, how- 

 ever, is quite plentiful throughout the West, 

 and these I saw in considerable numbers and 

 in many sections during my journey. 



At noon one day we forded Cibicue Creek 

 and drew up at the ranch house and store of 

 Mr. Prime T. Coleman, Indian trader and old- 

 time cattleman. We had made the visit merely 

 to replenish our supply of provisions, but with- 

 in ten minutes after our arrival Coleman, with 

 true Western hospitality, had invited me to re- 

 main a day or two and accompany him on a 

 mountain lion hunt and I had accepted. Cole- 

 man, an enthusiastic hunter of mountain lions 

 and bears, had at the time, in conjunction with 



