Of Cottontails and Horny Toads (text and graphics by A. Leon Miler)

Cottontail, Horny Toad, & Lizard

A flat sable brush to quickly define the outlines, this is not about animal details; cottontail does not want to stand out.  Horny toad just wants to blend in.The whiptail just wants to be ignored.  So let them be.  They are just part of the design.

There are always ravens wandering about over the desert, looking for an easy meal. The creosote keeps on going down the margin between the Rio Grande valley and the edge of the mountains, all the way into Mexico and west Texas, punctuated by islands of mesquite and prickly pear cactus, cut by arroyos sheltering Mormon tea and saltbush, and providing banks for coyotes and foxes to make homes in.

Over it all flies raven. Road runner stays down in the brush looking for hapless lizards and baby quail. At night coyote goes running about looking for cottontails who are attempting to be invisible while eating prickly pear cactus and whatever grass that might be available.

Cottontail in the Weeds

Coyote

Calligraphic Ravens

And so life goes on.