NATURALIST IN CALIFORNIA. 477 



icana), common and very large; Phillip's Jumping-r:it {Di- 

 jpodomys FJiilUppii), common, and an invader of dwellings. 

 The Texan Hare I have already mentioned. The Indians 

 also brought in a fawn, apparently of the OeiDUS Columhia- 

 nus, which seems to be the conmion species along the river, 

 although others probably exist. They also brought a young 

 antelope, of which herds were seen on the neighboring 

 mesas during the short period of green vegetation in spring. 

 A Wild-cat {Lynx rufus) was often seen at dusk al)out the 

 post garden, where I attempted to shoot it but failed for 

 want of light. My inquiries about the Californian Opossum 

 found along the Mexican boundary, did not indicate its ex- 

 istence in this valley, though it will be found there if au}^- 

 wdiere in California, nor did I learn of any other carnivo- 

 rous mammals. Beavers are quite common in the river and 

 grow to an enormous size; Gophers [Thoinomys fttlvus) are 

 also common. 



Compared with Kennerley's collections, in 1854, and 

 Cones', in 18G5, at Fort Whipple, the first quarter of 1861 

 must have been unusually cold. April proved to be the 

 month for the arrival of the great body of summer birds, 

 althouirh a week before I saw what I took to be a Fork- 

 tailed Flycatcher {Milvulus foi'ficatusf), a species never yet 

 obtained west of the Rocky Mountains, and a Scarlet Fl}^- 

 catcher {Pyrocephalus Mexicanus) , which is a rare summer 

 visitor, about which I could not be mistaken, though neither 

 would allow of a near approach. I obtained the following, 

 usually as soon as observed: April 2d, Adhis costce; 3d, 

 Bullock's Oriole (Icterus BuUockii) ; and saw an Empidonax, 

 Barn Swallows, and Summer Yellow-bird ; a ground Cuckoo 

 (Geococcyx Calif or nianiis) laid an egg in its cage. 11th, 

 shot an Obscure Flycatcher (Emjjidonax obscurus). 17th, 

 Texan Nighthawk ( Chordelles Texensis) , and saw the first 

 eggs of Orioles. 24th, McGillivray's Warbler {GeotJdypis 

 McGilUvrayi) , Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria viridis, not 

 long-tailed), Arkansas Kingbird (Tyrannus veriicalis). 



