474 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Piles of these shells are often found thus collected in places frequented by 

 them. They are also said to be ready and expert in catching their prey in 

 the air, sometimes springing up to the height of eight or ten feet In these 

 performances the wings and tail are expanded for but a moment, the bill is 

 heard to snap as the insect is seized, and the bird drops again suddenly to 

 the ground. 



Colonel McCall adds that the general impression that its powers of flight 

 are very limited is not correct. When suddenly alarmed in open ground, it 

 rises with a light quick motion, and flies some hundreds of yards continu- 

 ously with an ease that attests its ability to maintain even a longer flight. 

 He has often seen it climb to the top of a straight leafless branch, and there 

 sit, apparently to enjoy the first rays of the morning sun. 



They are shy and retiring in disposition, wary, vigilant, and cautious, so 

 that it is generally difficult to approach them on the open ground. When 

 suddenly surprised and driven to fly a considerable distance for cover, though 

 they fly with evident ease, tliey rarely rise higher than six or eight feet from 

 the ground. In evidence of its wonderful swiftness of foot. Colonel McCall 

 states that when on one occasion, approaching Limpia Creek, in Texas, with 

 a small party, he discovered a Chaparral Cock in the open road, about a 

 hundred yards in advance, for his amusement he put spurs to his horse, and 

 dashed after the bird with one of the men. It was thus pursued for full four 

 hundred yards along a smooth and level road, over which with straightened 

 neck and slightly expanded wings it swiftly glided without seeming to 

 touch the ground. AVhen at last it sought shelter in the thicket, they had 

 not gained upon it more than fifty yards. 



Captain McCown kept a young half-grown bird in confinement, but it re- 

 fused to eat, and soon died ; others, however, have been more fortunate, and 

 have succeeded in taming them. 



Dr. Heermann states that the stomachs of all these birds examined by 

 him were filled wath the grasshoppers and the large black beetles found on 

 the plains. A nest of this bird was found by him, built on the branches 

 of the cactus, and constructed of loose sticks put negligently together in 

 a manner similar to the nests of the Yellow-biUed Cuckoos. It contained 

 two large white and nearly spherical eggs. 



Dr. Gambel states that these birds devour reptiles as well as other insects, 

 which is also confirmed by the observations of Mr. Arthur Schott. 



Lieutenant Couch mentions that this bird, called Paisano by the Mexicans, 

 is also held in high estimation by them on account of its enmity to the rat- 

 tle-snake, which it usually succeeds in killing in fair combat. Though by 

 no means deficient in courage, it is represented as remarkably quiet and 

 harmless in its habits. The only note he heard from it was a weak scream, 

 which is seldom uttered. It is unsocial, is never seen in flocks, and rarely 

 wanders from its restricted locality. 



In regard to their note, Dr. Cooper mentions hearing one at Fort Mohave 



