8 DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



the upper rail and running at top speed the full 

 length of one side of the fence. The peculiar 

 thing about it is that he invariably does it at 

 the same time of the day — just about noon. 



Persons who have tried to make a pet of the 

 "pasiano," as the Mexicans like to call this 

 lanky, ludicrous-feathered wit, find him so mis- 

 chievous that he often proves himself a source 

 of endless annoyance. A Mr. Dresser, of Mata- 

 moras, referred to by Dr. Ridgway, who had 

 one partially domesticated, found he could not 

 let it remain in the house at all. " It would hide 

 and steal everything it could carry off and was 

 particularly fond of tearing up letters and up- 

 setting the inkstand. It was never caged or 

 tied up and would frequently pay the neighbors 

 a visit, always returning before evening. The 

 bird had a singular antipathy to a tame parrot, 

 and whenever the latter was let out of the cage, 

 it would get into a rage, and either go to the 

 housetop or decamp to the neighbors." 



In spite of his prankish, sportive nature, the 

 Mexicans look upon the road-runner as a pur- 

 veyor of good luck and a very desirable neigh- 

 bor, and he is not unwelcome when he comes, 



