MAMMALIA.

CHAPTER XIV.

FAUNA AND FLORA OF ARIZONA.

BIRDS. REPTILES. THE ZONES OF VEGETATION.

VALUABLE AND ABUNDANT FORESTS. STRANGE CACTI. INVALUABLE BOTANIC REMEDIES. A VEGETABLE SOAP. APACHE CONFECTIONARIES. TREE BEANS. THE SCIENTIFIC, THE CURIOUS, AND THE USEFUL.

I. FAUNA.

Among the mammalia of Arizona is the panther, cougar, or Rocky mountain lion, which has depopulated some of the former breeding places of wild turkeys, to a degree threatening their speedy extermination. One caught on the White mountain reservation weighed about a hundred pounds gross. There are also found in various portions adapted to their respective habits, two species of deer, antelope, mountain sheep with very large horns, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, foxes, peccaries, raccoons, opossums, prairie dogs, etc. The lynx or wild cat is extensively distributed. The American wolf, the wolverine, the prairie wolf and the badger are uncommon. Grizzly bears are common at Camp Apache, and have been killed near Bill Williams mountain. The Coyotero, Mogollon and White mountains are the homes of cinnamon and black bears, which are also found in the hilly and wooded country of Arizona generally. The wood rat is good eating, its habits being entirely different from those of the house kind; its availability in that direction is fully appreciated by the Apaches. The Rocky Mountain rat and the white mouse are also found in the Terri tory, and the black-faced gopher is astonishingly numerous on the White mountains. The kangaroo rat and the yellow and tufttailed kangaroo mice are also found in some parts. Squirrels are well represented, both in number and variety, and include the tuft-eared, the Arizona gray, Fremont's chickaree, the fourstriped and the pale four-striped squirrels; also the Gila chipmunk, which may be a variety of one of the preceding. The Rocky mountain chipmunk is uncommon. The lime-tailed squirrel is very numerous on the rocky hillsides near Camp

Bowie, where it is well known as an egg-stealer; and it is also found at Camp Apache. The American beaver is common on the tributaries of the Rio Verde. Hares and rabbits are represented by the Little Chief hare, the California hare, (found south of the Pinal mountains) and the sage rabbit, occasionally seen on the desert near the Gila.

Bats are numerous in some localities; the pale bat is a decided nuisance at Fort Yuma during the hot months, taking up its abode in the chinks and crannies of the officers' quarters, making them offensive from the multitudes crowded together, (a miniature Chinatown) and at night fluttering by scores about the rooms. Of other species, individuals are occasionally found. The little brown bat has been found in the south, in the deserts of which a specimen was secured of the horny bat, which is doubtfully distinct from the red or New York bat, and generally prefers higher elevations or latitudes. Of the Carolina brown bat, distinguished from other species by its peculiar dentition, a specimen was secured near Camp Apache.

In its birds, many parts of Arizona are so exceedingly rich in the number of species, owing to the great variety of climates, resulting from its contour of surface, that in a work of this character but little more can be done than to enumerate the species, state their usual habits, and summarize general results. The country between Camp Apache and the Gila river appears to be the dividing line between northern and southern birds; hence its vicinity is as interesting to the ornithologist as the Colorado Plateau and upper portions of that river and its tributaries are to the geologist. Camp Bowie, Camp Lowell, and the vicinity of old Camp Crittenden are also good ornithological stations. In fact, Arizona will prove to be the paradise not only of the geologist, as has been said, but of the scientist of almost every description. South of the Little Colorado, between Camp Wingate (N. M.) and Apache, a specimen of a bird allied both to the titmouse and warbler, of which but a single specimen had been previously known, was secured by a member of Wheeler's exploring expedition. In the same region was discovered the Mexican snow-bird, previously supposed to be an exclusive inhabitant of Mexico. Common on the edges of the pine woods and rocky ravines, though probably reaching far to the northward, is a large fly-catcher. Between the Gila and Camp Grant is seen the oriole. On Graham Peak, at an altitude of ten thousand feet, and at the base of the Santa Rita mountains, birds are numerous, both as to species and individuals, including humming birds, warblers,

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and the Mexican cross-bill. In the Sonoita valley the Arizona sparrow abounds, and near Camp Lowell is the cactus wren. The undergrowth of the stream near that post abounds in feathered life, including robins. The species of thrushes are numerous. The song of the crissal thrush, found in various parts of eastern Arizona, is is said to be "in sweetness of tone and modulation, almost unrivaled." Mocking birds nest in cactus, water ousels frequent the streams of the White mountains, blue birds of the various species are numerous in this and other elevated localities in the south-east. Wollweber's lead-colored and the yellow-headed titmouses are found in Arizona, the latter at Camp Lowell and on the upper Gila. The California nuhatch abounds in the mountains; several species of wrens are common in the south, and the western long-billed marsh wren is found in every locality suited to its habits. Warblers, swallows, fly-catchers and vireos are abundant of the several species. The Arizona vireo is rare though widely distributed; its song "might best be compared," writes a naturalist, "with the finest efforts of the solitary vireo; yet to the beauty and variety of notes of this bird, it adds all the charm and mellowness of expression which is pre-eminent in the song of the yellow-throated vireo." Townsend's solitaire is gregarious in the fall. The white-rumped shrike is rare south of 36 deg. There are several species of tanager; the song of the Louisiana tanager is "a short, simple melody, but beautiful from its extreme sweetness of expression." Sparrows and finches are very numerous, of wide range in regard to habit, and some species excel as natural musicians. The house finch, though by no means wanting in the wild districts, is most at home in civilization, resembling in nesting habits the English sparrow, but with the advantage of "a really beautiful song," being " prodigal of effort to please the ear." If duly cared for at first, they would probably be efficient in our cities and elsewhere as insect exterminators. Buntings, wagglers, grosbeaks, orioles, crows and jays are common and widely distributed. The belted kingfisher is occasionally found on the creeks and rivers. The western and Texas night-hawk are found on the Gila. The whippoor-will is common; the white-throated swift nests in cliffs. Cuckoos are represented by the chapparal cock and the yellowbilled. There are about a dozen species of woodpecker in the south-east. There are several species of owls, two of which are remarkable in their habits for that class of birds. The western great-horned owl hides by day in deep cañons or thick cottonwoods, and sees perfectly in broad day-light. Another species

found in the piny ravines of the White mountains associates in regular companies, and is abroad only in the earlier part of the morning and during the late afternoon. Hawks and falcons are found in localities appropriate to their habits. The golden eagle has been seen. An adult pair of the American eagle was observed in a cañon near Camp Apache, near which solitary birds are sometimes seen on the watch for fish. The Zuni Indians highly value their feathers as festive ornaments, and keep the eagles in wicker enclosures. The wild turkey is abundant from Camp Apache throughout the mountainous portion of south-eastern Arizona; the cañons near the head of the Gila and New Mexico sometimes swarm with them. They roost at night in the large cottonwoods by the streams, and by day feed on the seeds of grasses and upon grasshoppers on the dry hills. At Stoneman's lake and other portions of the road from Prescott to Fort Wingate they are quite numerous. There are partridges of several species. Aquatic birds, such as sandpipers, snipes, herons, cranes, rails, terns, etc., are not numerous, but are found in moderate numbers in the few localities to which they are adapted. The snow goose is said to winter on the Colorado; and the spring or pin-tailed duck has been seen on the San Pedro.

In Arizona and elsewhere not only birds but serpents are more numerous in the proximity of settlements, very few serpents, except the rattle-snake being encountered on the barren plains. Its rattle is easily mistaken for the noise made by the cicadas, though readily distinguishable by the difference of rhythm, that made by the cicada being shorter and more uneven. In one exploring expedition through Arizona and adjacent territories not over twenty rattle-snakes were observed during a ride of over 2,000 miles; but in 1873 many were found on the Gila. But if Arizona is less troubled as to quantity of rattle-snakes than has been supposed, it still excels in quality, as a species discovered there by Dr. Coues, and named crotalus pyrrhus is the most brilliantly colored of the genus, now known to comprise eighteen species, seven of which are peculiar to Arizona. The black rattle-snake, to which backwoodsmen attach an unusual degree of virulence, abounds in the White mountains. The heterodon vasicus (hog-nosed sand viper) was found as far south as Mineral Park. It is said to be entirely harmless notwithstanding the general belief to the contrary. The phenomenon known as mimicry of color is strikingly exhibited both by the serpents and lizards of this region; specimens seen upon the grassy meadows of the

marshes being of brilliant colors assimilating to the general tint of the herbage, while those in alkaline plains approach the neutral tints of the ground and sage brush. In such of these as were found near red sandstone deposits, the normal colors were so altered as so lead to grave doubts of the species under observation. The horned toad, (phrynosoma) of the same species were observed to bear three different body tints in as many localities covered by one day's ride. But the most peculiar circumstance in connection with the latter is that after removal from the localities where found, (the colors in each case closely corresponding with the localities) the normal colors invariably returned within twenty-four or forty-eight hours. These animals are very numerous in Arizona, in which seven species are known; also three species of tortoises. The Gila monster is an overgrown, variegated, perfectly harmless lizard, of a species peculiar to Arizona, that lives among the rocks. One was secured 18 inches in length; its color was jet black and brick red, sometimes shading into buff. A specimen recently taken near Tucson, nine inches in length, is described as consisting principally of mouth, having the appearance of an embryo alligator.

II. FLORA.

Few countries of the same area present a better field for the scientific botanist than Arizona, or are excelled in extraordinary, spontaneous vegetable productions, some of which are of great practical value, and will be hereafter cultivated elsewhere. Dr. Loew, of the Wheeler Exploring Expedition, divides the "regions of the south-west" (including Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, etc.) into four distinct zones of vegetation, according to altitude: "(1.) Zone of cactus, yucca, and agave (mescal plant); altitude, 3,000 to 3,500 feet; grass is scanty; where there is water a most luxuriant vegetation springs up. (2.) Zone of obione and artemisia (grease-wood and sage-brush); altitude, 3,500 to 4,900 feet; grass is poor, with few exceptions, on granitic and volcanic soil. The cactus species are diminished in number. (3.) Zone of juniperus occidentalis (cedar); altitude, 4,900 to 6,800 feet; cactus species, few. (4.) Zone of pine and fir, 6,800 to 10,800 feet (highest points). These limitations descend more on eastern and northern than on southern and western slopes. Above 8,000 feet nightly dews fall. Cactus, however, grows at any level that is not too high, and in some parts of southern California does not grow as high as 2,000 feet, while the mescal or agave