426 



THE PHEASANT CUCKOO. 



back, dullish yellow on the under parts of the body, and rusty red upon the wings. The long 

 tail is beautifully barred with black and white. 



A KIND of Ground Cuckoo (Geococcyx californianus\ is found inhabiting the South- 

 west, and Mexico. It is the Chaparral Cock, Paisano, or Road-runner. The latter term 

 explains its habit of frequenting the highways, always on the ground, where it will outrun 

 the fleetest horses. The native population hunt this bird on horses, and regard it sport 

 to run it down in this manner. Even hounds find it difficult to reach them after consid- 

 erable running. It has a singularly broad and long tail, which is borne erect when run- 

 ning, and no doubt assists materially in steadying the bird in its long and rapid course. In 

 evidence of its wonderful swiftness of foot, Col. McCaul states that when, on one occasion, 

 approaching Olympia 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 and dashed 

 after the bird with one of his men. It was thus pursued for full four hundred yards along a 

 smooth and level road, over which, with straightened neck and slightly extended wings, it 



swiftly glided, without 

 seeming to touch the 



s .^EFiriiK*"^ ground. When at last 



it sought shelter in a 

 thicket, they had not 

 gained upon it more 

 than fifty yards. This 



PHEASANT CUCKOO.- Centrvpiu phaAanut. 



with the rattlesnake, 

 which it always is 

 ready to fight. Its only 

 voice is a weak scream, 

 which it seldom utters. 

 It is unsocial, never 

 going in flocks. It be- 

 comes quite familiar 

 when near human 

 habitations, and fre- 

 quently seems to pre- 

 fer the proximity of 

 farm-houses. It even 

 ventures near enough 

 to hunt for mice, 

 which it destroys with 

 much dexterity. 



OF the Coccyginse, or Lark-heeled Cuckoos, so called 

 from their long hind toe, we shall select two examples ; the 

 one being an Australasian bird, and the other an inhabitant 

 of America. 



The PHEASANT CUCKOO derives its popular appropriate 

 name from the great length of its tail, which gives to the bird 

 an outline bearing some resemblance to that of the pheasant, 

 a similitude which is further carried out by the bold markings of its plumage. This handsome 

 bird is a native of New South Wales, where it is not uncommon, although rather a local bird, 

 seldom wandering to any great distance from the spot which it loves. It frequents low-lying 

 and swampy lands ; living almost entirely among the rank herbage of such localities, and 

 keeping itself concealed among the bushes. When alarmed it flies to the nearest tree, alights 



