Koo 



26^ 



After that, Koo not only recognized his friend when met with in this neigh- 

 borhood but when called, actually followed him like a little dog back down 

 the trail to camp for food. 



As the two birds stayed in the neighborhood for a few days, we hoped that 

 we were going to have a nest under close observation, but then they both 

 deserted the old nesting-ground. 



About the first week in March it grew warm enough to rouse some of the 

 lizards and we were away a great deal working in the lower country, so the 

 comrades went farther afield for their hunting. 



But again, about April i, low koos were heard not far from camp and 

 glimpses were caught of — was it Koo looking across the gulch at us? The low, 

 familiar snapping of the bill was also heard and once a level streak was seen 

 disappearing under the mesquite — Koo's mate? 



After another long interval in which we vainly looked and called and called 

 and looked for our mascot, his familiar notes were heard rather near camp. 

 Soon after, one morning before the tent door was open, we heard what was 

 recognized as the Roadrunners' spring love-song. It was given near enough 

 the tent for us to catch its vibrant, emotional tones. It was the ordinary koo 

 note sublimated, repeated rapidly and with fervor. From across the gulch 

 came the answer, and we knew that Koo had left his strange human friends to 

 answer the primordial call of his own race. 



LARK SPARROW ON NEST 

 Photographed by Dr. A. H. Cordier Olathe Kans. 



