Sutton, on Road-runner 
19 
vo rous birds to need gravel in their digestive processes. It seems 
to me more likely that the mud had an attractive odor, possibly 
of snakes and lizards, since near this particular puddle of water 
many reptiles of various sorts had been killed to feed Ihe birds. 
I realize that this opinion involves a discussion of the birds’ 
olfactory powers, and probably I should not offer it at all; but 
it is the safest venture I can make at present. 
The young birds did not apparently often drink water, but a 
large amount was consumed at each drinking. During the act 
the bill was held parallel with the surface of the water, and 
was opened only slightly. The throat and breast feathers were 
nearly always dampened because the bird stooped so low. The 
large swallows of water were visible going down the neck as in 
the familiar barn-yard cases of the horse and cow. Dust baths 
were frequent; baths in water, however, were not. During slight 
showers the birds usually sought no shelter whatsoever, but dur- 
ing the heaviest of the shower lifted their wings and straightened 
the body out so that the water ran off easily. The plumage of 
the bird (especially of the young) is not at all oily, and the birds 
often become soaking wet. Immature birds spent part of the 
hottest portions of the day lying about in the shade, during 
which time they did not eat much. Then, apparently without 
warning, they were apt to saunter out to the road, begin cap- 
turing grasshoppers in a leisurely fashion, and possibly return 
shortly for another rest. 
Adults in a wild state roosted high up in wild grape vines 
and tangles of other vegetation. It would be interesting to 
know whether they roost in similar places in the desert, for if 
such is the case large numbers might be found roosting together. 
From my experience, however, I should say the birds never roost 
in flocks. The young birds always selected the highest point 
possible for roosting in their cage, and stuck their heads under 
their scapulars as is the case with most birds, 1 believe. On 
rare occasions the birds became causelessly frantic, and dashed 
about from one side of the cage to the floor, merely touching 
their feet, and bounding backward and forward as though crazy. 
On such occasions 1 let them out quickly. They always stepped 
out in a gingerly fashion, walked to the back porch stone steps, 
and lay down in a cool spot. If they needed exercise why did 
they not now take their chance? 
If, for any reason, a bird was not hungry, and was offered 
food, his actions were always laughable. He shook his head 
