320 HISTORY OF THE 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 22.50 20.50 6.75 11.50 2.25 1.75 



Female... 21.50 19.60 6.50 11.00 2.15 1.70 



Iris pale grayish brown, the pupil encircled by a narrow yel- 

 low ring; the naked space around eyes, extending back to hind- 

 neck, pale flesh color, sometimes with a yellowish hue; eyelids 

 bright blue; bill dusky, with under pale bluish at base; legs and 

 feet ashy blue; claws blackish. 



These remarkable birds are terrestial in their habits, and at 

 home upon the sterile plains and lands dotted with mesquite 

 and chaparral brush. They are very fleet of foot, and although 

 they can fly with ease, and quite swiftly, prefer as a rule to es- 

 cape by running, dodging and skulking. A solitary and usually 

 a silent bird. I have occasionally heard them utter a few low, 

 whistling, chattering notes. In their movements, generally run 

 about in an apparently aimless manner, often stopping and jerk- 

 ing their tails (which are usually carried in an elevated manner) 

 and assuming many grotesque and ludicrous positions. Their 

 food consists chiefly of beetles, grasshoppers, snails, lizards and 

 small, harmless snakes. I put no faith in the general belief and 

 many stories told about their manner of killing the large rattle- 

 snake; for, if they had the courage, they have not the strength 

 of wing, bill or claws with which to successfully attack them. 

 Their nests are placed upon a platform of sticks, in low trees, 

 and upon bushes, and are built of twigs and weeds, with occa- 

 sionally a slight lining of grasses. Eggs usually five to nine; 

 as high as twelve have been found. They vary somewhat in 

 size. A set of five, collected April 18, 1882, near Corpus 

 Christi, Texas, measure: 1.62x1.19, 1.60x1.22, 1.60x1.21, 1.59 

 xl.22, 1.58x1.23; in color, white to buffy white; in form, ovate. 



GENUS COCCYZUS VIEILLOT. 



"Head without crest; feathers about base of bill soft; bill nearly as long as 

 the head, decurved, slender, and attenuated towards the end. Nostrils linear. 

 Wings lengthened, reaching the middle of the tail; the tertials short. Tail of 

 ten graduated feathers. Feet weak; tarsi shorter than middle toe." 



