AXIS. ROAD-RUNNERS, CUCKOOS 



cooing of a dove, another like the hen calh'ng 

 her chickens together where some food has 

 been discovered, the rapidly uttered clack, 

 (Iach\ (lack, repeated several times. It also 

 makes a peculiar sound by snapping its bill 

 together rapidly. AVhen suddenly alarmed 

 it trusts to its legs to escape, running sur- 

 prisingly fast but when about to be overtaken 

 it will double on its tracks and dive into the 

 underbrush and disappear. It flies with 

 ease and swiftness considering its short 

 wings, its long tail acting as a rudder when it 

 makes a sudden turn. 



The road-runner is most abundant along 

 the southern border of the United States, 

 thinning out northward. It is almost two 

 feet in length, one half of which is tail. It is 

 one of the most remarkable and interesting 

 birds imaginable with its many unusual 

 traits and its grotesque appearance. Coues 

 calls it a combination of chicken and magpie. 

 The young can be easily domesticated and 

 make interesting pets, having many of the 

 uncanny tricks of a crow. Although usually 

 shy it will sometimes become a regular visi- 

 tor to the chicken yard to i)ick up the scraj)s 

 of animal matter and destroy all sorts of 

 vermin about the ranch. 



The road-runner belongs to a family of 

 IG.S 



