74 TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 



only a few feet off, until suddenly 

 and swiftly as if by magic, it 

 spreads its long speckled wings — 

 and off it goes, flying over our 

 heads in an erratic flight. It is a 

 most fascinating sight to behold 

 how these lively birds fly with the 

 swiftness of an arrow over the 

 prairie-plains^always, when hun- 

 gry, seeking some waterpool or 

 rivulet, where lots of insects con- 

 gregate. Often scores of them 



caught, the peculiar and loud sound 

 of cutting the air current with 

 its wing feathers is heard a great 

 distance off. 



The photo herein of. two such 

 bullbats was taken by the writer 

 lately during an outing along 

 the romantic river bottom near the 

 ancient mission Espada south of San 

 Antonio, and a separate original 

 view of the landscape — also the 

 haunts of the red bird, inockingbird. 



Romantic River Bottom Scenery, Near San Antonio, the Haunts op the Red Bird, 

 Mocking Bird, Whip-poor-will and Other Texas Fo-rest Songsters 



can be seen thus engaged, executing 

 all sorts of circular and angular 

 flying manuevers closely over the 

 water's surface, with aloud, screech- 

 ing noise — aided by the swift 

 movements of their wings (cutting 

 and flying and rotating from 

 one edge' of the water — along a 

 tank or creek, to the other; and 

 each time an insect is to be 



Whip-poor-will and other songsters, 

 is vividly depicted. It is a favorite 

 fishing place pf San Antonians 

 seeking recreation and nature ob- 

 servations along this shady and 

 histtffic rivtilet of the metropolis, 

 and it depicts the peculiar and 

 tropical vegetation on both sides 

 of the river, the left part being 

 densely supplied with willow and 



