LORQUINIA 
85 
came, perhaps, some dire calamity and the race, as the individual, 
returned to dust. 
In a measure, this study is like looking back through the flight of 
time at ourselves living under changed conditions and in different 
environments. What would we have been and done? How would 
we have lived — as king or slave? 
Southern California is not very rich in relics of its aborigines. 
There are no great ruins of tremendous stone blocks, nor beautiful 
sculpturings of mystifying glyphs telling of ancient deeds or relig- 
ions. In fact, the field is so barren, owing to the mental develop- 
ment, or lack of it, of the Indians who lived in this locality, that, 
except for the conventional stone and shell utensils, with a few note- 
worthy variations, it is seldom that relics indicative of habits are 
brought to light. 
On the Sandberg Ranch, in the mountains south of Antelope 
Valley, and about four miles east of the Ridge Road, is a small 
canyon, in the mouth of which is situated a group of rocks indicating 
the site to have been a large Indian encampment. One rock has two 
mortar holes, about fifteen inches in depth, while there are a number 
in the rocks nearly as deep. On another rock a series of small in- 
dentations, looking like mortar holes just begun, forms roughly a 
five-pointed star, while another group remains undeciphered. 
Near at hand is a large granite boulder, about eight feet high 
and the same distance across the base. The sloping side has been 
smoothed and polished apparently, and is stained with an indelible 
stain absolutely unlike any other rock in the vicinity. The entire 
monolith rests upon two wedge-shaped rocks that possibly were placed 
so as to lessen the pitch of the incline. It is possible that this rock, 
if not the others too, was used in some ceremony constituting part of 
the phallac worship practiced generally by the Indians of Southern 
California. Numerous pestles, mortars, and a few arrowheads have 
been found here, but no relics of burial. There are also a number of 
stone-lined pits near, the excavation of which reveals nothing but a 
small amount of charcoal. These were probably used for the storage 
of acorns. 
A small creek runs through the camp site, which is surrounded by 
oaks and pines. Back in the canyon, the spruce trees mingle with 
maples, and in the foreground a tiny meadow reaches out to the edge 
of a small lake, making in all a beautiful spot. 
C. P. Collins. 
EGG-LAYING OF TESTUDO AGASSIZII 
Miss Florence Evans of Sierra Madre, California, has recently 
sent me some interesting observations regarding the egg-laying habits 
of the Desert Tortoise, Testudo agassicii. A tortoise, of this species, 
