216 DR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Leptostoma longicauda, Swains. Class. Bds. vol. ii. p. 325 and 140, fig. 172. 



Gamb. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. vol. ii, p. 263, 

 G. mezicanus, Strick. Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1841, p. 544, Hartlaub, 



Revue Zool. 1844, p. 215. 



The Hoitlalotl, or Long Bird of Hernandez, was said to inhabit the hottest parts of 

 Mexico ; to fly near the ground, making but short flights, but ran so swiftly that it 

 far exceeded the speed of the swiftest horses ; and that its flesh was not much 

 esteemed for food. The length of the body was nine inches, and the tail in addition 

 about a span, or a total of about eighteen inches, and the tail green with purplish 

 reflections like the peacock. 



All of which is true of the Paisano only, and together with the rest of the 

 description given by Willoughby and Ray, leaves but little doubt that this is the 

 bird which was intended to be described. As we know, therefore, that the name 

 mexicanus was first given to it as the bird of Hernandez, it should be retained, 

 although the description be so imperfect. 



It is distributed throughout the greater part of Mexico, where it is well known by 

 the name oi paisano, or countryman, and in California as the correcamino, or road- 

 runner. We also found it occasionally on the route from New Mexico to California, 

 and I have seen several specimens from Texas, 



Its swiftness of foot is proverbial, and the astonishment of all who see it ; indeed it 

 is said in many places to be chased on horseback by the Mexicans for amusement. 

 I have heard of its being tamed at Chihuahua and other places, and kept about the 

 houses to rid them of vermin, such as scorpions, lizards, centipedes, &c., which are 

 there so common ; and judging from the contents of the stomach of one which I 

 opened in California, they would be useful enough for this purpose, for it contained 

 to my astonishment, beside other small matters, nine very large grasshoppers and a 

 good sized lizard whole ! 



I have been told by the Californians, that they have a method of killing snakes 

 which, if true, is sufiiciently remarkable : that is, when they find a snake coiled up 

 and asleep, to encompass him with the joints of a round-stemmed cactus, with long 

 very piercing barbed spines, which is common in many places, and then to drop a 

 joint upon his coil ; the snake by his twisting is pierced in all directions and soon 

 killed, 



I have observed them to freqwei I principally the barren bushy plains, and 

 especially those which are covered with several kinds of cacti ; probably because in 

 such places lizards are also abundant. I have found their bills and feet covered with 

 dirt as if they had been both scratching and digging. They will fly for a short 

 distance when first surprized, but if chased do not rise, running with the wings a little 

 open and the head erect. 



