PHILOSOPHY IN THE SADDLE. I43 
“ Not an egg. Don’t you suppose this chap' 
went up there to gather them?” he asked, shut- 
ting the reptile in his box. 
“ Certainly. You know the serpent’s reputation 
for wisdom. ‘ Great minds run in the same direc- 
tion.’ We wanted the eggs ; so did he,” she re- 
plied, settling herself in her saddle, and gathering 
up her bridle-reins to continue their explorations. 
If any one entertained any doubt as to the 
nature of the snake’s errand up the tree, it was 
removed when they reached camp. Owing to 
the effect of the anaesthetic, or to sickness caused 
by riding, he was found to have disgorged five 
young flickers. 
A few days after this, in passing down the 
Platte, the party saw some singular-looking large 
birds, but failed to get near enough to them to 
determine what they were. Calling at a house, 
Mrs. Maxwell found a transplanted “ Down- 
Easter,” and essayed to get some information 
with regard to natural history from him. 
“ We saw some large birds above here on the 
bank of the river,” she began. “ I wonder if you 
take enough notice of such things to tell us what 
they were ? ” 
“ Wal, I calculate I kin if I kin make out 
which kind you mean. There air several sorts 
round here. Wasn’t crows, was they?” 
“ Oh, no,” she replied, “ they were much 
