210 TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 



communicate throughout the chap- 

 arral and cactus jungles with rat 

 trails leading from one rat nest to 

 the other. Often these places are 

 the haunts of the rattlesnake, pole- 

 cat, possum, huge spiders, etc. 

 In olden times kingsnipes were 

 encountered very numerously 

 near such creeks and prairie plains 

 described and throughout the level 

 prairie land of the Leona valley; 

 also northwest of San Antonio. 

 One early morning, in company* 

 with a friend, the late C. Seabough, 



cities at night time and make a 

 fearful racket with their loud 

 screeching voices. When a mere 

 boy, and in company with my 

 older brothers, and a great friend 

 of outdoor life at that time, these 

 curlews abounded in large flocks 

 after heavy rains, and it was, a 

 great sight to notice hundreds 

 of them feeding on open prairie 

 near the Leona, or along the 

 stagnating water pools between 

 the mesiuite brush, and to note 

 the fearful screaming noise they 



A Texas Curelw or Kingsnipe; Prairie Scenery, Leona Valley. (Original View) 



at the time reporter of the Express 

 staff, we met hundreds of curlews; 

 also as many, and even more, 

 of the plover snipe in this neighbor- 

 hood and valley further north of 

 the present Beacon Hill suburbs, 

 which at that time was all barren 

 prairie land. These large snipes 

 are great and reliable weather 

 prophets, and it is known to 

 observant hunters and cowboys and 

 farmers as well, that whenever, 

 in: spring or fall, heavy rains are 

 ■anticipated, these curlews migrate 

 in large flocks over the land and 



made after one of their flock had 

 been wounded. Again and again 

 they would come flying in a circle 

 above and around some wounded 

 comrade, with a shrill and loud 

 peeping voice ; then was the chance 

 to pop some more of them dovvn— 

 that is, if you happened to be a 

 good shot. In those days none 

 of the modern improved, quick- 

 loading and quick-shooting breech- 

 guns were in existence and often 

 before one had reloaded his gun, 

 these keen-eyed king-snipes made 

 their escape to other pasturing 



