SOUTHERN ARIZONA 221 



knows where, in the wilds of the mountains ! 

 Where did they go? What were the happen- 

 ings that proved so fascinating ? Did they visit 

 and romp with other deer ? Or was it the pure 

 pleasure of the free life and going? Who can 

 answer ? 



All the dogs slept at night on the veranda, as 

 close to one another as possible for the sake of 

 warmth, the deer in the centre, with the cats of 

 the household lying on top of the group. This 

 was the usual custom, for the nights were cold 

 in these mountains. On rainy days, or when 

 tired, Venado would enter the main room of the 

 house, go up to the low sofa and climb upon it, 

 and lying down with bovine deliberation, would 

 rest himself. Here he made a beautiful picture. 

 His great, placid, intelligent eyes and the fine 

 color of his hair, together with his grace of form, 

 are more readily imagined than depicted. When 

 contemplative, he would stay for hours in this way, 

 chewing his cud, and doubtless ruminating on 

 new excursions to be taken with his .friends. 



Among our coterie of animals, a little gray 

 rock-squirrel was a character not to be over- 

 looked. Often the squirrel would join the deer 

 on the sofa, and finding some soft place in the 

 stiff hair where it was warm, the tiny creature 

 would curl up and take a nap. One of the traits 

 of this squirrel was an extreme liking for comfort. 



