Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-05-08
ROAD RUNNERS AND SNAKES
A Rather is Surrounded by Wall of
Cactus and Goaded to Death.

There is a strange bird of the pheasant
family, peculiar to Southern California,
Arizona and Mexico, whose habits have
long been puzzle to naturalists, and has
furnished much amusement and interest
to sportsmen in these localities. The
name of this bird is the road runner.
1t is built somewhat like an English
pheasant, being of dull brownish color,
and having long, tail feathers and short,
thick legs. 1t derives its name, no doubt,
from its ability to get over ground at a
rapid rate, as well as from the fact that
1t is more frequently seen on the country
roads than anywhere else. 1t is very
wary bird, and is seen but seldom. 1t
rarely takes flight when approached, but
VIII run along the ground with its head
down, at remarkable rate of speed.
This peculiar bird appears to be an in
yeterate enemy of rattlesnalles, which
abound in great numbers in the localities
before mentioned. 1t is said that the
birds first kill and then eat the snakes.
but of this latter fact | am not certain
Their methods of killing the snakes are
at once peculiar and ingenious, and will
best be illustrated by the following Incl
dent:--
Some three years since | was camping
on the ella River in Arizona | had ac-
companied prospecting party, who had
gone to this region in search of silver
and copper, which were said to be
abundant in this section.
L was seated one day at noon near
number of cactus plants, and getting
such shelter from the noonday sun as a
small cluster of manZanita bushes would
afford. had not been seated long when
observed lying asleep about twenty
yards off large rattlesnake.
Selling a stick, | was about to make
an attack on the sleeping reptile, when
l noticed a pair of large brown birds
standing under stump of bushes, and
apparently watching the rattler with
great interest. AS they had not seen me
| resolved to keep quiet and watch for
developments. l knew the birds were
road runners, and, having heard that
they never let rattler escape when once
they saw one, | was anxious to see how il
was done.
One of the birds cautiously approached
the snake, as if to satisfy itself that the
reptile was really asleep. The bird then
walked deliberately up to small cactus
plant and broke off piece of the thorny
substance, which it carefully laid down
about foot away from the snake. Piece
by piece followed until the snake was
fairly walled in by circle of thorns,
from which it would have been very hard
for the snake to have escaped without
serious injury
The next movement on the part of the
birds was even more curious than before.
The snake had remained asleep all this
time, but at this point one of the birds,
uttering sharp note, jumped into the
ring, gave the reptile a sharp nip with its
beak, and was out again almost before
his snakeship was aware of what had
happened.
To coil itself for a spring was the first
act of the serpent, and, when one of the
birds approached within what appeared
to be striking distance, there was sharp,
quick dart forward. AS quick as flash
the bird was out of harms way, and
equally sudden was the movement of the
other bird, which seized the snake from
the rear before it could again assume a
coil.
Every time the snake launched out at
the birds it was pricked by the thorns,
until it became perfectly frantic with
rage.
AT last, smarting under the pain in
6icted and unable to reach the birds,
which kept jumping in and out of the
ring with lightning-like rapidity, the
rattler turned and bit itself again and
again.
At this the birds seemed to suspend
operations, and very soon the body Of
the snake began to swell, its movements
became slower and slower and soon
ceased altogether. The snake was dead
What might have further happened |
am unable to say, as just at this stage of
the proceedings jumped to my feet and
thereby attracted the attention of the
birds, who scampered off and were soon
lost to sight. The snake was large one
of its kind, and had thirteen rattles, be-
sides the "button" at the end When |
told them in camp what had happened, l
was informed that this was by no means
an uncommon occurrence, and that after
killing the snakes, the birds invariably
made a meal of their victims