6o Bird -Lore 



the bird, but, if the other bird is along, it is snatched off immediately. The 

 actions of a horned frog are especially peculiar when confronted by its 

 enemy, from whom it knows it cannot escape. It rises up on all its legs and 

 flattens out to such an extent that to swallow it at the time would be impos- 

 sible. The Road-runner knows the trick, however, and in about five minutes 

 the horned frog is constituting part of the Road-runner. 



My birds are a peculiar sight when running. If not in a great hurry, they 

 remind me somewhat of a pacer, swinging from side to side; but the rate to 

 which the Road-runner can attain may only be described as a 'road-runner 

 gait !' The neck is extended on about a level with the body, as they run stealth- 

 ily and noiselessly past. I have never estimated the rate of their running, but 

 it surely bids fair to be the fastest of any running bird which flies. 



As before stated, there is no limit to the surprises a day's association with 

 these birds can afford. I was fairly frightened when one bird ate mud in pieces 

 as large as my smallest finger tip, with apparent relish! It may have been full 

 of minute crustaceans, — how shall I ever know? When a crayfish was given to 

 one bird, it first pulled off the pincers, and then swallowed it entire. Another 

 time one ate the pellet from a Texan Screech Owl as soon as it was disgorged. 

 In fact, every curious article is picked up, run through the bill, and then either 

 dropped or swallowed. 



The small amount of water apparently necessary for the sustenance of these 

 birds is unusual. They rarely drink more than twice a week, and will usually 

 upset the water-pan at other times. They dampen their whole breast when 

 drinking, and take long, measured draughts. 



There are but few animals smaller than a prairie-dog which can really 

 frighten a Road-runner in the day; but they are laughably timid at night. A 

 mouse in their cage, after dusk, almost crazes them with fright. They beat 

 against the wire with seemingly hopeless terror, endeavoring to get out. Their 

 lower mandible droops, the wings lift, and the tail spreads to its fullest extent. 

 But the morning sees them fearless again, and the same mouse is dispatched 

 with but slight concern. 



During July, we moved to West Virginia, and, being most curious to know 

 how changed food conditions would affect them, the Road-runners were taken 

 along. The morning of our arrival was chill and foggy; and how were the 

 Road-runners? I was almost afraid they would fall over from the thinness of 

 the air at the higher altitude but, instead, they were sprightly and ran up the 

 hill, hunting on the way. They soon found resources, and before long caught 

 English Sparrows with great avidity and dexterity. It took much practice, 

 on their part, however. To catch a Sparrow is no easy thing, and it was inter- 

 esting to watch them. 



The Road-runner would cautiously approach the Sparrow, and when quite 

 near would leap into the air and sail in short circles around the dazed bird, 

 snatching him up with marvelous quickness. 



