The Road-runner 



portrait, but glided off at 

 six feet, and proceeded to 

 give me an exhibition of 

 plain and fancy gliding, 

 flopping, tree-dancing, 

 and dramatic posturing, 

 such as I have never seen 

 quite the like of before or 

 since. Crouching was 

 the favorite attitude, and 

 this she accomplished 

 either lengthwise or cross- 

 wise of a limb. If there 

 was room for her tail to 

 hang straight down, so 

 much the better, for this 

 produced a sort of roguish 

 peekaboo pose. But if 

 there was not room, the 

 tail was welcome to stand 

 straight up, or any old 

 way. 



The mistress seemed 

 divided in her mind 

 whether to lure or fright- 

 en me, and so she tried 

 both. With the last- 

 named effort went a series 

 of low grunts, or coos, or 

 moans, almost inaudible, 

 alternating with a snap- 

 ping of the mandibles, 

 which was quite distinct 

 in sound and a little dis- 

 concerting. Once she came within two feet of me, and I eyed her warily, 

 for a tweak from this lady's bill would be no light matter. But for the 

 most part she tried luring, having recourse for the purpose again and again 

 to the ground. Here she advanced by little runs, alternating with crouch- 

 ing postures. Presently she developed the mouse-squeak ruse, feebly and 

 tentatively at first, but afterwards sharply and convincingly. Two of 

 these performances were accompanied by a slight rolling or treading 

 motion, as though she had learnt the game directly from the Long-eared 



Taken in Kern County 



A CELL IN THE CASTLE 



REACHED BY RUNNING ACROSS THE FACE OF THE ROCK 



Photo by the Author 



1145 



