WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 181 
WI.— COMMON LAND BIRDS IN 
COLOR GHOOCE S 
WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING IN PLUMAGE 
385. ROAD-RUNNER. — Geococcyx californianus. 
(Common names: Chaparral Cock ; Ground Cuckoo; Liz- 
ard Bird.) 
Famity: The Road-runners, Anis, and Cuckoos. 
Length : 20.00-24.00. 
Adults : Upper parts iridescent blue-black on head, neck, and shoulders ; 
metallic greenish brown on lower back, tail, and wings ; feathers 
broadly edged with white ; tail-feathers blue-black, broadly tipped 
with white ; under parts whitish, and throat streaked dull buff and 
blackish ; naked skin in front of the eye, blue and orange ; feathers 
of the head and neck stiff and bristly ; tail long and graduated ; four 
white thumb marks on the under tail-feathers. 
Geographical Distribution: Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, 
west through California, south into Mexico. 
Breeding Range : Throughout its habitat. 
Breeding Season: March 15 to July 1. 
Nest: A platform of twigs ; lined with cowhair, leaves, or feathers, or 
nearly unlined ; variously placed in bushes or trees, from 3 to 8 feet 
from the ground. 
Lggs: 2 to 12; buffy white. Size 1.56 x 1.23. 
THe “ Road-runner ” is well named. No matter how 
long one has lived in California or how familiar one may 
be with Western birds, the novelty of seeing one of these 
birds dart out of the chaparral and race down the road 
ahead of one never loses its charm. “It takes a right 
smart horse to keep up with him.” Do not expect to 
overtake him or to win the race. <A brisk trot merely 
keeps you the same distance behind him, and a. faster 
gait only sends him scudding along more rapidly. When 
