CUCKOOS, ETC. 
384. Groove-billed Ani. 
Crotophaga sulcirostris. 
Range. — Mexico and the border of the United 
States; common in southern Texas. This odd 
species has a Cuckoo-like form, but is wholly 
blue black in color, and has a high thin bill 
with three conspicuous longitudinal grooves on 
each side. They build 
large bulky nests of 
twigs, lined with 
leaves and grasses, 
and located in low 
trees and bushes. They 
build in small colo- 
nies but do not, as is 
claimed of the com- 
mon Ani, build a large 
nest for several to oc- 
Greenish blue cupy. They lay from 
three to five eggs of a greenish blue color, cov- 
ered with a chalky white deposit. Size 1.25 
x 1.00. They are laid in May or June. 
Road Runner 
Groove-billed Ani 
385. Road-runner. Geococcyx calif ornianus. 
Range. — Western United States from Oregon, Colorado and Kansas, south- 
ward; most abundant on the Mexican border, and wintering in central Mexico. 
This curious species is known as the “Chaparral 
Cock,” “Ground Cuckoo,” “Snake-killer,” etc. Its 
upper parts are a glossy greenish brown, each 
feather being edged or fringed with whitish; the 
tail is very long, broad and graduated, the feather.^ 
being broadly tipped with white. They are noted 
for their swiftness on foot, paddling over the 
ground at an astonishing rate, aided by their out- 
stretched wings and spread tail, which act as 
aeroplanes; their legs are long and have two toes 
front and two back. Their food consists of lizards 
and small snakes, they being particularly savage 
in their attacks upon the latter. They build rude 
nests of sticks and twigs, in low trees or bushes, 
and during April or May, lay from four to ten eggs, depositing them at inter- 
vals of several days. They are pure white and measure 1.55 x 1.20. 
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