Sutton, on Road-runner 
19 
voroiis birds to iieeil gravel in tlieir digestive processes. It seems 
to me more likely that the mnd had an attractive odor, possibly 
of snakes and lizards, since near this ])articnlar puddle of water 
many re])tiles of various sorts had been killed to feed the birds. 
I realize that this o|)inion involves a discnssion of the birds’ 
olfactory powers, and probably I shoiibl not offer it at all ; bnt 
it is the safest venture I can make at present. 
The young birds did not apparently often drink Avater, but a 
large amount Avas consumed at each drinking. During the act 
the bill was held parallel with the surface of the water, and 
Avas opened only slightly. The throat and breast feathers were 
nearly alAvays dampened because the bird stooped so Ioav. The 
large SAvalloAvs of Avater Avere visible going doAvu the neck as in 
the familiar barn-yard cases of the horse and cow. Dust baths 
Avere frequent ; baths in Avater, hoAvever, Avere not. During slight 
shoAvers the birds usually sought no shelter whatsoever, but dur- 
ing the heaviest of the shoAver lifted their Avings and straightened 
the body out so that the Avater ran off easily. The plumage of 
the bird (especially of the young) is not at all oily, and the birds 
often become soaking Avet. Immature birds sjient jiart of the 
hottest portions of the day lying about in the shade, during 
Avhich time they did not eat much. Then, apparently without 
Ava riling, 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 Avild state roosted high up in Avild grape vines 
and tangles of otlier vegetation. It Avonhl be interesting to 
knoAv Avhetlier they roost in similar jdaces in the desert, for if 
such is the case large numbers might be found roosting togetlier. 
From my experience, hoAvever, I should say the birds never roost 
in flocks. The young birds ahvays selected the highest point 
possible for roosting in their cage, and stuck their heads under 
their scapulars as is the case Avith most birds, I 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 backAAmrd and foiuvard as though crazy. 
On such occasions I let them out quickly. They always stepped 
out in a gingerly fashion, Avalked to the back porch stone steps, 
and lay down in a cool spot. If they needed exercise Avhy did 
they not now take their chance? 
If, for any reason, a bird Avas not hungry, and Avas offered 
food, his actions Avere ahvays laughable. He shook his head 
