FROM PITBELO CREEK TO THE COLORADO RIVER. 
7 
found, in great numbers, Gambel’s partridge, ( Callipepla Gambellii .) While encamped here this 
beautiful bird afforded us fine sport with our shot-guns, and furnished us with many delicious 
meals. Along this canon were many deserted wigwams, the Indians having probably retired 
to the south at the approach of winter. 
This immediate region being billy, and covered, for the most part, by bushes, was not a spot 
well suited to the habits of the antelope, and hence we did not find it here. This species prefers 
the open valley, or wide and unbroken plain. Descending into the Chino valley, we found this 
animal in large herds, sometimes of hundreds. Occasionally, impelled by curiosity, they would 
approach quite near, and for a time gaze upon the train, then circling round, would hurry off 
and disappear in the distance. Indeed, the apparent curiosity of this animal is one of its marked 
peculiarities, and the western hunter often takes advantage of it to lure the unsuspecting crea¬ 
ture within reach of his rifle. 
After leaving the Chino valley, we entered again the cedar forests, where we found wild tur¬ 
keys once more very abundant, frequenting, for the most part, the neighborhood of the little 
brooks that we found in this region, and feeding upon the berries of the rough-barked and other 
species of cedar. 
In the thick underbrush along these creeks we often found the beds and resting places of the 
grizzly bear ; but the animal itself we never saw. In this vicinity we caught some interesting 
fishes, and collected many handsome specimens of birds, the smaller species, particularly, being 
quite numerous. 
From Pueblo creelc to Williams river. —Following up Pueblo creek nearly to its source in the 
mountains, we passed through Aztec Pass. This was a beautiful little stream, and we were 
sorry to leave it, as in this region one seldom sees such cool and limpid water. 
Passing through the mountain, we again descended into a beautiful valley, where we found 
both the black-tailed deer and antelope quite numerous. Continuing our march, we crossed, 
from time to time, deep canons with their pools of clear water, though containing no fishes, 
yet affording a sporting place for many ducks. The sides of these canons are composed of rugged 
and precipitous cliffs, in which the lynx ( Lynx rufus ) and other wild animals of this region live. 
The caves, also, among these rocks often afford shelter for the wild Indians of this region, who 
gather the maguey plant, ( Agave Americana ,) which grows in great luxuriance here, and store 
it away for winter use. This is their principal food, although they combine with it the flesh of 
mice, rats, and such other animals as they can capture. 
The distance from Pueblo creek to Williams’ river is probably much less than the distance em¬ 
braced between any other divisions that we have assumed; but it was a country throughout particu¬ 
larly rich in deer. It was a country, also, pretty well wooded with the various species of cedar, 
which, in addition to its affording a shelter for the larger animals, supplied also, in their berries, 
food for various species of the smaller birds, some interesting specimens of which we were 
enabled to collect. We frequently passed the burrows of the smaller quadrupeds, with their 
heaps of spiny cactacem piled over them to prevent the coyote from destroying them and their 
habitations. The long and barbed spines of this plant are sufficient to deter the wolf from 
committing his depredations, but the small rabbit, ( Lepus artemesioe ,) not resorting to this 
important expedient for protection, often falls a victim to the rapacity of this animal by being 
chased or scented to its burrow and then dug out. The jackass rabbit, ( Lepus callotis ,) being- 
much more swift than the small one, is less liable to be overtaken by its untiring enemy. 
From Williams’ river to the Great Colorado river. —We entered here upon a district of new 
character and of much interest. Descending into the valley of this stream, and travelling along 
its banks to its confluence with Rio Santa Maria, we had an opportunity of seeing, as well as 
collecting, many new and interesting objects; among the larger game recognizing many old 
acquaintances whose forms had now become familiar. On the wide mesas that stretched out on 
either side of us herds of antelope continually sported, and in the valley black-tailed deer were 
