-00 Expedition to the 



3rd. The morning was clear and fine, with a temperature 

 of 57 degrees. The antelopes became more numerous as we 

 proceeded; one of them trotted up so near to our line, as to 

 fall a victim to his cariosity. A considerable number of the 

 coquimbo or burrowing-owl occurred in a prairie-dog vil- 

 lage of moderate extent. They readily permitted the hunter 

 to approach within gunshot, and we were successful in ob- 

 taining a specimen of the bird in good order. On examining 

 the several burrows, at which the owls had been observ- 

 ed to be perched, we remarked in them a different aspect 

 from those at which the prairie dog had appeared; they 

 were often in a ruined condition, the sides, in some in- 

 stances, fallen in, sometimes seamed and grooved by the ac- 

 tion of the water, in its course from the surface to the mte- 

 rior, and, in other respects, presenting a deserted aspect, 

 and, like dilapidated monuments of human art, were the fit 

 abode of serpents, lizards, and owls. 



The burrows, at which we saw the prairie dog, were, on 

 the contrary, neat, alv/ays in repair, and evinced the opera- 

 tions of industrious tenants. This contrast, added to the 

 form and magnitude of the dwelling, leads us to the belief 

 that the coquimbo owl does not, in this region, excavate its 

 own burrow, as it is said to do in South America and in the 

 West India islands. But, rather, that it avails itself of the 

 abandoned burrows of this species of marmot, for the pur- 

 poses of nidification and shelter. 



On our arrival at our mid-day resting place on the bank of the 

 Arkansa,thewaterof the riverwas potable, but in a few minutes 

 it became surcharged with earthy and stercoraceous matter, 

 from the sweepings of the prairie by the late rain, to such a 

 degree, that our horses would hardly drink it. There re- 

 mained, however, a short distance below, a small stream of 

 beautifully pellucid v/ater, which rapidly filtrated through a 

 fortuitous embankment of sand and pebbles, and strongly 

 contrasted with the flood, with which it was soon again to 



