. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. THE ROAD-RUNNER AND KINGFISHER 215 the eggs or egg-shells of other birds was proven by the finding of shells "in several stomachs, but only in very small quantities—no more than was found in the stomachs of nearly every spe- cies that has been ; Thus the offence charged proves to be too trivial to consider. The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo inhabits the east- ern half of the United States to the Great Plains, and the Black-Billed ranges westward to the Rocky Mou
. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. THE ROAD-RUNNER AND KINGFISHER 215 the eggs or egg-shells of other birds was proven by the finding of shells "in several stomachs, but only in very small quantities—no more than was found in the stomachs of nearly every spe- cies that has been ; Thus the offence charged proves to be too trivial to consider. The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo inhabits the east- ern half of the United States to the Great Plains, and the Black-Billed ranges westward to the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the tropics. From the Rockies to the Pacific, and up to Brit- ish Columbia, is found the California Cuckoo, a close counterpart of the Yellow-Billed species. The Road-Runner, or Chaparral Cock,1 is a very strange bird; and many strange "yarns" have been told of it. It is remarkably odd in form, and also in its habits. It is about the size of a small crow, with a tail as long as its entire body and head, and legs that are so long and strong they seem like those of a grouse, save that the toes are longer. The body is slender, but the neck and head are large, and the head has a conspicuous crest. The beak is large. Although this bird has wings, it seldom uses them, and they must be constantly growing smaller through disuse. This strange bird is a habitant of the South- west, from Texas to southern California and southward, and lives on the ground, in the low, dry brush which is called chaparral (shap-a-ral'). It feeds upon every living thing inhabiting that region which it can catch and swallow,—mice, lizards, small snakes, centipedes and insects. It is one of the most nervous birds imaginable,— suspicious of everything that moves, and ready to make off without stopping to reason why. It exhibits a decided preference for the smooth trails and paths through its beloved chaparral, and when alarmed it does not rise and fly, but makes off running
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