DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



THE CALIFORNIA ROAD-RUNNER 



(Geococcyx californianus) 



OF all the feathered denizens of the desert there 

 is none that has such an amazing stock of pecu- 

 liarities or so many odd and interesting com- 

 binations of absurd manners to show us as that 

 unique bird, the California road-runner. He is 

 the desert's hermit bird wag, as full of comi- 

 cal manners and as resourceful in mischief as 

 the fun-loving jay or inquisitive nutcracker, 

 yet, unlike these birds, never obtrusive in his 

 familiarity. And how he does love sports! 

 Every morning he goes down on the trail below 

 my shanty and saunters idly along waiting for 

 me to come with my pail for water, well know- 

 ing that I will give him chase and afford him 

 the fine fun of beating me to the corner. Just 

 as I am about upon him, he leaps into the 

 brush out of sight and is seen no more for an 



