James B. Housden—Where Rolls the Rio Grande



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Song Sparrows, and others. I arrived in Southern Texas at the end

of March ; at that time (before I began my journey to El Paso)

thousands of the beautiful Cedar Waxwing were passing on their spring

migration to the north.


El Paso is a very fine city in Southern Texas, a frontier city of

77,000 inhabitants ; a bridge connects the Mexican city Jaurez (8,000

inhabitants).


Before we left the train a little excitement occurred. Two very

dark men with long black hair were marched through the train, in chains,

by three American and Mexican armed soldiers. American soldiers

guard one end of the Rio Grande River, Mexican the other side. I

found no trouble in crossing into Mexico.


There is something particularly exciting to the lover of birds

when he first visits a tropical or sub-tropical forest ; neither have I

found the feeling to wear off by repetition. One is always expecting

something new in bird life.


One of the first impressions of the Eio Grande Eiver one gets is

its beautiful sunsets. The steep forest-covered valleys going from

east to west are very beautiful and abound in bird life of great variety.

In the spring migration one meets large flocks of Eobins, Eed Cardinals,

Bluebirds, Crow-blackbirds, Meadow Larks, Kingfishers, Cedarbirds,

Purple Finches, and various other kinds. At times one feels strangely

moved ; familiarity certainly breeds an increasing love for all these

beautiful hills and birds. Often I have found myself in one of these

forest tracts (almost reminding one of the hothouses of Kew Gardens

at home). One forgets the heat in beginning a new work in a new

locality.


Some of the birds are very interesting.


The Red-winged Tanager


At a little village on the Rio Grande the song of this little bird is

heard more frequently than at any other point. Close by a ranch house

there is a small stream bordered by low woods, a favourite resort for

these birds. As day was breaking (on the dead branch of a small

tree) they would pour forth their morning song. This bird is one of

the most attractive of the family of Tanagers.



