74 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



parent ability to move each individual feather on its whole body, in any 

 direction it wishes, are enough to make one laugh, and the way it can 

 get over the ground, when so inclined, is certainly astonishing. It is a 

 combination of flying machine, aero-plane and kangaroo. 



They seldom fly, but when alarmed, spread their wings, start their 

 feet in motion, and a gray streak through the underbrush and across 

 country, shows their course. They will run ahead of a galloping horse 

 and the best efforts of the rider cannot bring him abreast of the fleeing 

 bird, until the latter, tired of the race, turns off into the underbrush. 



Their food consists of lizards, insects, snakes, etc. They are said to' 

 be deadly enemies of the rattle-snakes, capturing them in a peculiar 

 manner. When they find one asleep, they quietly gather up a quantity 

 of cactus leaves and with them, build a fence around the snake. When 

 they consider that they have a sufficient barrier, they give the snake a 

 sharp peck and jump back to await developments. When the snake be- 

 comes entangled among the cactus leaves, these long tailed jokers are' 

 tmable to contain their joy and execute a war dance about their trap, go- 

 ing through all the grotesque antics that they are capable of, and call- 

 ing his snakeship all the pet names in their vocabulary. When the 

 rattler finds that he is unable to extricate himself, it is said that he de- 

 liberately turns his fangs upon himself and dies of his own venom. 



Having witnessed the last struggles of its victim, this queer bird 

 dances a few more fancy steps on the body of its enemy, croaks awhile 

 over its victory, and then goes off to search for more fun. I have never 

 witnessed this performance, but have been told by those who have 

 actually seen it, that it really does occur as described. I did see one, 

 that did not get a little green lizard for dinner. 



I had been out since daybreak, feasting my soul as only a bird lover 

 can. I had travelled many miles and the sun was high, and it certainly 

 was hot. I had picked out a soft, grassy seat on the shady side of a 

 mesquit bush and had just seated myself to eat my lunch, when I got 

 right up. With an outlay of some time, patience, and rather ill-feeling, 

 I succeeded in separating myself from a large balloon cactus. Not 

 wanting to run any risks, and feeling a little sore over the matter, I 

 sought a bare spot on the bank of a small stream, where I could see 

 what I was going to sit on. As soon as I got settled, I saw a little 

 green lizard coming up the bank, and looking under every leaf and twig 

 with his bright little eyes, for grubs, etc. All at once he stopped and 

 looked up — in an instant he was off like a flash and a Road-runner came 

 jumping down the bank, squawking with anger and disgust at losing 

 a tidbit. 



After a hearty laugh I too left for home well satisfied with my days 

 outing, that is not taking the balloon cactus into consideration. 



Chas. E. Ho\le 



