ROAD-RUNNER 141 



ern States. In both the plumage is bluish-black with 

 a slight iridescence. 



The Road-runner, or Chapparal-cock, is one of the 

 most striking members of the Cuckoo family of the 

 southwestern parts of the United States and Mexico. 

 It is a Ground Cuckoo — that is, it frequents the 

 ground rather than trees — and consequently has long 

 legs, all the other Cuckoos having conspicuously short 

 legs. The plumage is in general olive-brown above, 

 with considerable white and washes of reddish colour, 

 the tail is long and rounded, the outer feathers black 

 tipped with white. The bill is long and sharp and a 

 strip of blue and red skin runs back from the eye. 

 See Plate 41, Fig. 246. 



