TURUID.E — TIIK THRUSHES. 45 



species. A single specimen was obtaineil by Dr. Leconte near Fort Yuma, 

 and described by Mr. Lawrence in 1851, and remained unique for many 

 years. In 1861 Dr. Cooper presented a paper to the California Academy 

 of Sciences, in wliicli this bird is given among a list of those new to that 

 State. He then mentions that he found it common about the Mojave iliver, 

 and that he procured two specimens. 



Dr. Coues, in his valuable paper on the birds of Arizona, speaks of obtain- 

 ing, in 18G5, a specimen of this rare species on a dry plain covered thici<ly 

 with mesquite and cactus, near Fort Mojave. This bird was \ery sliy and 

 restless, fluttered hurriedly from one cactus to another, until he at last shot 

 it where it seemed to fancy itself hidden among the thick fronds of a large 

 yucca. Its large stout feet admirably adapt it for its partially terrestrial 

 life, and it apparently spends much of its life upon the ground, where it 

 runs rapidly and easily. Its flight he describes as swift but desultory, aud 

 accompanied by a constant flirting of the tail. He considers this species as 

 inhabiting the whole valley of the Colorado aud Gila, aud thinks that it 

 does not leave the vicinity of these streams for the mountains. 



Dr. Cooper found a nest of this species, but without eggs, built in a yucca, 

 and similar to that of H. rcdivivus. In his Eeport on the Birds of Cali- 

 fornia, Dr. Cooper speaks of finding this bird common on the deserts, along 

 the route between the Colorado \^alley, wlierever there was a thicket of low 

 bushes surrounded Ijy sand-hiUs. Its notes, habits, and general -appearance 

 were like those of If. redivivus. 



Harporhynchus redivivus, Cxbxs. 



CALIFOBNIA IHBASHEB. 



Hurpcs rediviva, Gambel, Pr. A. N. S. II, Aug. 184.5, 264. Toxostoma rediviva, Gambel, 

 J. A. N. Sc. 2d ser. I, 1847, 42. — Cassin, lllust. 1, 1855, 260, pi. xlii. Harparhyn- 

 chias rcdivivus, Cabaxis, Archiv Naturg. 1848, 98. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, .349 ; 

 Rev. 48. — SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1859, 339. —Cooper, Birds Cal. I, 15. 



Sp. C'liAR. Wing much rounded ; the second quill .sliortcr than the secondaries. Tail 

 much graduated. Bill much decurved, longer than the head. Above brownish-olive, 

 ■without any shade of green ; beneath pale cinnamon, lightest on the throat, deepening 

 gradually into a brownish-rufous on the under tail-coverts. The fore part of the bre;ist 

 and sides of the body brown-olive, lighter than the back. An obscure ashy superciliary 

 stripe, and another lighter beneath the eye. Ear-coverts and an indistinct maxillary stripe 

 dark brown ; the shafts of the former whitish. Ends and tips of tail-feathers obsoletely 

 paler. Length, 11.50 inches ; wing, 4.20 ; tail, 5.75 ; tarsus, 1.55. 



IIab. Coast region of California. 



Habits. The California Thrasher appears to have a somewhat restricted 

 distribution, being confined to the coast region of California, where, however, 

 it is quite abundant. It was first met with by Dr. Gambel, near Monterey. 

 The specimens were obtained on the ground wliere they were searching for 



