----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Audette" <[log in to unmask]>
>

> Our tolerance of other animals ( another effect of Neoteny) allowed us to
> join packs of dogs ( neotinized wolves) in the hunt making light throwing
> weapons practical for taking large game for the first time.  Our new
hunting
> skills allowed to take any animal with ease

Ray, I thought of you last week when I had a nice visit with a man in his
60's who lives here in the desert in Southern New Mexico.

We were talking about hunting in this area and how it has changed.  He told
me that he used to hunt with a Roadrunner bird.  At first I laughed and
thought he was joking, but he convinced me that the bird lived near his
house and came to his back patio regularly for "handouts."

Soon they got to know eachother from their daily visits and, after a while,
when the man took walks in the desert, the bird would often follow - on
foot.  They developed a relationship and a hunting pattern in which the
Roadrunner would kill whatever snakes, etc. they came across - and they
would "share" the kill.  When they were back at the man's house, he would
give treats to the bird.

I've often thought of early humans hunting w/ wolf/dogs and birds of prey -
but never Roadrunners that "chose" to partner up w/ a human.

Kath