The Road-runner 
when the opportunity comes, its sponge-like tissues are charged with mois¬ 
ture to the summit of the column. The pressure becomes so great that 
excess water seeps into all cavities in spite of their hardened gourd-shell¬ 
like linings; and these hollows become completely flooded. In this way 
the nesting of 1917 was practically wrecked by a May storm. It is pos¬ 
sibly for this reason that Elf Owls retire from the northern portions of 
their range in winter. 
No. 223 
Road-runner 
A. O. U. No. 385. Geococcyx californianus (Lesson). 
Synonyms.— Chaparral Cock. Ground Cuckoo. Paisano. Snake-killer. 
CORREC AMINO. 
Description. — Adult: Feathers of upper plumage (when wings folded) and breast, 
metallic-colored centrally, and edged successively with ochraceous-tawny and white, 
the webs of the edgings separated, imparting to the whole plumage a loose, ragged 
appearance; plumage of head and neck thickly studded with fine, black, bristle-like, 
denuded shafts; that of belly and flanks thread-like, fluffy, and towsled; that of lower 
back silky, loose in texture, but close-lying; basal color of crown (where nearly pure) 
and cervix, purplish black; that of upper back, scapulars, and wings bronze-green; tail 
graduated for three or four inches, the central pair of rectrices and upper tail-coverts 
dark bronze-green or mingled greenish and metallic violet; the remaining rectrices 
metallic bluish, purplish, or greenish black, broadly tipped with white; feathers of 
breast, changing insensibly on sides of neck, with purplish black reduced nearly to 
shaft-streaks; hence, breast prevailingly ochraceous tawny; chin and throat white; 
belly and flanks flaxen; lining of wings dusky throughout; lower back and rump 
(.entirely concealed by folded wings) dull grayish brown; a series of stout, sharply-descend¬ 
ing black lashes from upper eyelid; a bare space around and behind eye (nearly meeting 
fellow on crown) blue, bluish white, changing posteriorly to livid orange. Bill and 
feet dusky horn-color; the tarsi the same color basally, but guarded in front by large 
and somewhat irregular yellowish scales. Young birds are strikingly similar to adult, 
but retain nesoptiles as scattering, white, thread-like appendages to feathers of upper 
plumage for some time. Length 533.4-635 (21.00-25.00), of which the tail 254-330.2 
(10.00-13.00). Av. of 10 specimens of both sexes: length 575.8 (22.67); wing 170.9 
(6.73); tail 303.5 (11.95); bill 48.2 (1.90); gape 66 (2.60); tarsus 62.5 (2.46). 
Recognition Marks. —Crow size (making some allowance for tail); long tail, 
terrestrial habits, and eccentric ways unmistakable. 
Nesting. — Nest: A bulky platform of interlaced sticks and twigs lined, or not, 
with bark-strips, tufts of grass, feathers, or soft miscellany; 12-18 inches in diameter; 
4-12 inches in depth; placed at moderate heights in cholla cactus, mesquite clump, or 
live-oak tree, or even in cranny of cliff. Eggs: 3-9 (12 of record), usually 4; ovate 
or short ovate; dull white, or dingy yellow. The outermost calcareous layer is occasion¬ 
ally etched away irregularly, after the fashion of other cuckoos, and in such case is apt 
to be more deeply tinged with yellow. Av. size 39.1 x 30 (1.54 x 1.18); index 76.6. 
Season: March-Jiily, but usually April or May; one, two, or three broods. 
1137 
