Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-08-23
RoAO humans Anp snAKrs.
Ahs hAttier Was Surrounded by n wall OF
cactus and Then G0aded 10 Death.

80" AHNH eSAued 10 Death.
There Is a strange bird Of the pheas.
ant family. peculiar TO Southern Cali
iorDia. Arizona and Mexico. whose
habits have long been puzzle 10 nat
uralists, aud has furnished much amuse-
ment and interest to@portsmen in these
localities. The name Of this bird Is the
road runner.
II Is built somewhat like an English
pheasant. being Of a dull brownish
colog and having long tail feathers and
short. thick legs. II derives lis name,
no doubt, from its ability TO get over
ground AZ rapid rate rs well as from
the fact that Il is more frequently seen
90 the country roads than anywhere
else II Is wary bird aud Is seen but
seldom. II rarely takes flight when
approached. but will run along the
ground. with IFS head down, at re-
niarkable rate oi speed.
This peculiar bird appears TO be an
inyeterate enemy Of ratilcsnakes which
abound Ia great numbers In the locali-
ties before mentioned. Ii Is said that
Tie birds first Kill and then eat the
snakes. bus Of this latter fact am not
certain. Their methods OF killing the
snakes are At once peculiar aud in
geni0ns, aud will bes, be illustrated by
The following Incident:
Some three years since / was camp
Ing on the ella River ia Arizona.
I had accompanied a prospecting party.
who bad gone to this region Ia search
/ u silver aud copper, which were said
/ 10 he abundant Ia this section.
| Was seated one day at noon near a
humber oi cactus plants, and getting
ss,vh shelter from the MONDAY sun as a
small ciaster Of manEaniia bushes
{ would afford had not been seated
long hen observed lying asleep about
+ twenty yards 81 4 large ralllesnake.
Seixing stick ! WAS about 10 make
an atiark on the sleeping reptile when
! noticed pair Of large brown birds
standing under 4 clump Of bushes. aud
apparently watching the RATHER with
inierca As lbey bad not seen me
resolved 10 keep quiet and watch for
developments. knew The birds We're
road runarrs. aud having heard that
thcY never let 4 RATHER escape when
oucc ghey saw Que was anxious 70 see
hos il VAS done
Onc II the birds cautiously approach
~ the snake ~ II IA satisfy itseli
that the repiilr was really asleep. tn,
bird shea walked deliberately up 20 !
sn,Ail cactus plant and broke oa !
pirrr u the lhorny substance. which l
cafrfuiig laid doan about a foot away
from lhr snake Piece hy piece fol
lamcA uu,il itr snake Mas fairly wales
81 IS ! circle II lhprns. from which !
unnid have brru very hard Tor th
snakc d haye escaped without scriou
injury.
The nest movement on thn part O
tbe blFvls was even more curious thai
before. Tho snake had rcmsinel
kslecn all the time. but ~ this poin
Que nI thc birds. uttered sharp uoIe
. lsmpod into iha ring, gave the rcpiii
sharp nip iih rs bcak aud was os
. anain almost before his snakcship wa
: amarc II what had happened.
! TO coli itself for a spring was N
: lrBi act Il the serpent sud when on
II tho birds approached within wha
appeared 10 be- striking distance ihcy
was sharp. quick dar forward 4
unicL a. 4 Hash the bird was out (
Rarm'a WAY .and equally sudtcu was q
ro,rmcnl IL the other bird. whiC
. srigrd ii,r snake from the rear bciol
Il could again assume . coil,
: Eypry ilme tho snake launched out
tho birds Il Vas pricked hy the thor
, until Ii became perfectly frantic wi
rage.
!. Al last. snlartiug under The pain !
: aictrd and unable 10 reach the bird
!. which kcp, jumping IN aud out Of q
! ring with iighluing.like rapidiiy. q
Is ratiicr turned aud bit itself again an
again.
operations and very soon the body
ibs snake began 30 swell is mor
= mcpts became shaver aud slower al
& soon ceased altogether, The snaI
= was dead.
What migh, have further happened
am unable To- say. rs just al tins S'a
= Of the proceedings jumped 10 my i'
aud thereby attracted the attention
Z ths birds, who scampcrcd OF and We
4 sonn lost 10 sight. Tho snake wa
!. largo one of IT, kind and had tmrlc
II rattlrs beside the button at the 81
10 when told them IN camp what 2
. happened was informed that TINS
by no means an uncommon uccurren
aud that after killing the snake
birds invariably made a meal OF ~
u. sielims. " T. Herald.