SOUTHERN ARIZONA 223 



dinner when the bottle is being passed, and coffee 

 and cigars are at hand. These occurrences were 

 not casual but daily happenings, and afforded us 

 unfailing entertainment. 



Not the least important member of this happy 

 family was a large black donkey, or burro. He 

 was my special friend, and I used him chiefly on 

 my collecting trips ; for I found him tractable, 

 intelligent, and affectionate. He soon learned 

 what my journeys were for, and though afraid of 

 a gun at first, I readily accustomed him to it. 

 After a week's practice I could fire both barrels 

 from his back without alarming him in any way, 

 and he soon learned to watch the bird that gen- 

 erally fell on such occasions. Then he would 

 walk up to it, allow me to dismount, secure the 

 specimen, and put it away in the basket which 

 I carried for the purpose. If I started on foot 

 to continue my hunt for a short time in that 

 way, he followed, pausing when I paused, and act- 

 ing as if he thoroughly understood what I was 

 doing, and enjoyed his participation in it. 



One thing he did object to. He disliked a 

 wounded bird. Frequently when a quail jumped 

 suddenly in front of him I would fire hastily, 

 and perhaps wing it. At such times, the moment 

 I threw my gun to my shoulder " burrito " was 

 rigid ; he seemed to appreciate that I was not to 

 be disturbed. If the bird fell dead, he walked 



