250 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



philosophy. The Mexican may be always glad to 

 postpone coming events to the "manana," but he 

 does not waste energy in retrospective regrets. 

 What has happened may afford theme for ro- 

 mance, but does not furnish basis for idle be- 

 moaning of " better days.". 



The experiences in the mountains and deserts 

 of Arizona related in the preceding pages in- 

 volved a period of some four years. There were 

 slight breaks, such as I have mentioned, when I 

 visited the East ; but practically all the time from 

 the spring of 1882 until the spring of 1886 was 

 spent in this region. I have referred to a year's 

 leave of absence granted me by the trustees of 

 Princeton College. At the end of this time I 

 deemed it best to tender my resignation, and to 

 devote myself to the business interests of which 

 I have spoken. 



From this time on, that is, from the winter of 

 1883, it must not be inferred that I abandoned or 

 even seriously interrupted my work as a field- 

 naturalist. For a time in Arizona I was diverted; 

 but not even during this period was the work I 

 had found so interesting wholly surrendered. 

 The busiest day always found some hour when 

 I could examine into the conditions about me. 



I need not allude to the great pleasure that 

 came to me during this entire time through the 

 constant additions I was making to the sum of 



