A BIRD WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 19, Issue 21, 17 March 1908, Page 2

A BIRD WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR.

1 The bird known in America as the roadrunner not only has a keen sense i of humour, but delights in playing . practical jokes. It is about the size of an ordinary hen, but there is more [ intellect in its tail feathers than in * a whole barnyard of ordinary fowls. I It dearly loves to make a fool of any stray dog. The dog sees the [ roadrunner in a field, and starts after it. The roadrunner moves off with ' six-inch steps. This seems hopeful to j the dog, and he trots alc»ng sure of fun. ,' i Pretty soon he puts in more speed, but the roadrunner keeps just as far ', ahead. At length the dog is going at his level best, but the roadrunner I doesn't even ruffle a feather. Then, when the dog finally lies down to \ wine out his rage, the joking bird ' calmly pulls up and resumes its , scratching for worms in the dirt. The roadrunner has another standing joke which it plays off on the rattlesnake. < ' , When it chances to find one lying ' asleep, it cackles for its mate, and the two gather prickly pear leaves, which they pile in a circle round the snake. When the hedge is completed 3 they wake his snakeship with a sharp r peck, and skip off to a distance to enjoy the fun. The snake tries to \ get out but can't, and often starves \ to death. It is no uncommon thing in California to find dead snakes within circles of prickly pears, and j the authentic reports of naturalists make the roadrunners responsible for r I these tragic deaths.