20 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



ing a series of queer squealing, whistling noises. I 

 followed and saw a herd of antelope. As they were 

 in a position where it was impossible for me to ap- 

 proach them unobserved, I thought I would see what 

 there was in flagging. Carefully adjusting my red 

 handkerchief to my gun, I raised it in the air and 

 waited results. As soon as the handkerchief was 

 seen there were a number of whistles, and then the 

 whole band trotted off and did not stop until they 

 were a mile away." 



Camp was now moved to a spot near Sheridan, on the 

 railroad; but here it was found that eternal vigilance 

 was the price of peace, for the whole country was over- 

 run with tramps. They were so numerous that it was 

 necessary for some one to remain at camp all the time 

 to protect the supplies. This became so annoying 

 that Dyche concluded to try the effects of a scare 

 upon the unwelcome visitors. In the tent was a bag 

 of live snakes, and as a dozen or more of the tramps 

 were lounging around the camp, Dyche brought out 

 the bag and began taking the reptiles out and allow- 

 ing them to squirm about his body and head. With 

 both hands full he started to where the vagrants were 

 making themselves at home, and was pleased to see 

 that his plan worked well. After that it was only 

 necessary to begin handling the snake-bag to clear 

 the place of tramps. 



The location was found to be undesirable on account 

 of tramps and hydrophobic skunks, and it was deter- 

 mined to move to Colorado, where a few weeks were 

 spent in the Platte Canon, completing the collection 

 of insects. 



