Bird Notes from the South-west 189 



and frightened from their feast — the equally numerous dead 

 bodies of cattle that had perished in the recent blizzard. We 

 closed our eyes upon the dismal scene, thankful that the ap- 

 proaching darkness would soon completely hide it, and that 

 the night's travel would reveal to us a new country, the bor- 

 derland of summer. 



As if to welcome us, as we alighted from the train next 

 morning to stretch our legs in the station yard at El Paso, the 

 friendly though wary Ravens came sailing about, carefully 

 watching the back door of the nearby restaurant with one 

 eye, while with the other they followed the porters carrying 

 supplies to the diner. Always looking for a " scrap " ! So 

 we tossed them one from the remains of our lunch and tried 

 to make friends with them, but can only report that Mr. Ra- 

 ven is a very cautious gentleman, speaking his greetings 

 from a distance. Good natured, though, for he accompanied 

 us clear to Tucson, never being out of sight, and aside from 

 the ever-present meadowlarks and blackbirds, the only new 

 bird that we could safely add to our list, in that long stretch 

 of country. 



Our goal at last ! We could hardly sleep last night, for 

 to-day we will be afield, taking in the sights of " Queen City 

 of Cactusland," and investigating the bird-life of the region. 

 Violets and narcissus are blooming and the cottonwood buds 

 bursting. We are bewildered by the wealth of bird life, and 

 after listing a dozen species new to us and easily recognized, 

 as well as the descriptions of a dozen others — puzzlers — 

 we decided to wend our way to the University Museum, close 

 at hand, for a season of study. Here we found the exhibit 

 of birds second only to that of the Ores, and although mostly 

 collected in 1885-'89 these bird skins are as clean and beauti- 

 ful as if placed there only yesterday. All this was the work 

 of the genial Mr. Herbert Brown,^ the pioneer naturalist of 

 that region, who, when we found him (he is a busy man) 

 was most eager to assist us and explain our puzzles. Then 

 ^ Since deceased. 



