CHAPTER X. _Winged Life._--First day’s walk--Tracks in the

sand--Scarcity of birds--Dangers of bird-life--No cover for protection--Food problem--Heat and drouth again--A bird’s temperature--Innocent-looking birds--The road-runner--Wrens and fly-catchers--Development of special characteristics--Birds of the air--The vulture--His hunting and sailing--The southern buzzard--The crow--The great condor--Eagles and hawks--Bats and owls--The burrowing owl--Ground-birds--The road-runner’s swiftness--The vicious beak--The desert-quail--Wings of the quail--Travelling for water--Habits of the quail--His strong legs--Bush-birds--Woodpeckers and cactus--Finches and mocking-birds--Humming-birds--Doves and grosbeaks--The lark and flickers--Jays and magpies--Water fowl--Beetles and worms--Fighting destruction by breed--Blue and green beetles--Butterflies--Design and character--Beauty of birds--Beauty also of reptiles--Nature’s work all purposeful--Precious jewel of the toad 174