14 DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



first of the brood was all ready to leave the nest 

 when the last ungainly birdlings were breaking 

 from the shell. 1 How many insects, centipedes, 

 and lizards disappeared down the throats of 

 those lusty youngsters is hard even to imagine; 

 for they were always dreadfully hungry and 

 often fed. 



If a female road-runner is approached when 

 on the nest, she generally remains quiet until 

 the intruder is right upon her; then she slips 

 over the back of the nest and flies a short dis- 

 tance to safety, but where she can still see the 

 unwelcome caller. At times she has been known 

 to permit herself to be caught rather than for- 

 sake her young. 



A member of the Cooper Ornithological Club 

 (Mr. J. R. Pemberton) gives a most interesting 

 report concerning the actions of a female road- 

 runner whose nest he found some ten feet above 

 ground in a sycamore tree. As the observer 

 began climbing up to the nest, the bird hopped 

 to the ground. 



1 Further observations of nesting road-runners has con- 

 vinced me that this procedure is not always followed, but that 

 the habit is peculiar to the individual. Often incubation is 

 delayed until all or most of the set of eggs is laid. 



