::::::::SK THE MESQUITE WILDERNESS 3fe:::;:::; 



eager, no more tender, yet some subtle fate, with work- 

 ings too fine for our senses, decides against the first 

 suitor, and, before the second bird has regained his 

 perch, the female flies low over the cactus-pads, fol- 

 lowed by the breathless performer. 



Even after the choice was made and the two birds 

 remained perched close together, the male occasionally 

 performed his singing flight, his mate sometimes 

 watching him, sometimes coquettishly ignoring his 

 efforts and continuing her short darts after flying 

 insects. Several times we noticed mated Vermilion 

 Flycatchers in company with one or two young birds 

 of last year. These were doubtless families which had 

 remained united all this time. 



To a jjerson unfamiliar with the birds of Mexico 

 and the Western United States, the mesquites were full 

 of surprises. Occasionally a broAvnish gray form darted 

 across our path, and, folding its Avings, continued its 

 course u^pon the ground with swift, running hops, 

 darting behind each bush and clod of earth. A 

 moment's watching, and its curiosity forcing its head 

 into view, Ave noticed the most striking character of 

 the Curve-billed Thrasher. Whether Ave call him 

 brownish gray or grayish broAvn, his plumage is so 

 uniformly characterless in tone that it seems to change 

 Avith the position of the bird. When on the ground 

 the tone seems grayish Avhite ; Avhen among the mesquite 

 the hue darkens and fits in with the dull stems and 



*4 93 ^ 



