570 



CLIMBIXG BIRDS — SCANSOKES. 



as ascertained by liim. Its food consists of small snakes, lizards, ticks, and 

 large insects, and when tamed it catclies and devours mice with gTeat avidity. 

 The practice of keeping them tamed he found (|uite general, the oLject Leing 

 apparently to have them in readiness in case of sickness, for some forms of 

 which their flesh is considered a perfect cure. One in his possession became 

 very familiar and mischievous, stealing and hiding anything it could carry 

 off, and being particularly fond of tearing up letters and spilling the ink. It 

 was not confined in any way, and frequently visited the neighbors, always, 

 however, returning before evening. 



Mr. A. J. Grayson, of San Jose, in an article published, in Hutchings's 

 IMagazine for November, 1856, gives the following additional particulars, 

 together with a good figure : — 



" The road-runner is seldom seen on trees, iTuless pursued very closely,' ' 

 when it has been seen to spring from the ground to the branches, at a height 

 of ten or fifteen feet at a single bound ; Imt it prefers running along the road 

 or path, from which habit it deri\'es its name. 



" I liave now in my possession one of these birds, which is becoming 

 quite tame, and readily feeds upon any kind of raw meat, but prefers liz- 

 ards and small birds, wliich it swallows wliole, feathers and all. If given 

 to him alive, he will play with them awhile before swallowing them, just 

 as a cat wiU do with a mouse. I have seen him devour three sparrows, one 

 lizard, and a portion of the breast of a coot for his breakfast, without ex- 

 periencing any apparent inconvenience. 



" Although it cannot fly well, by its activity and quickness it easily 

 catches small birds, whether on the ground or in the thicket." 



I have heard of their 

 insects, etc. 



tamed and kept about gardens to kill mice. 



C. Ainin'camis. 



