272 LAND BIRDS 



swing their long bills sickle-fashion through the dead 

 leaves, and to pick up the insects uncovered by it or to 

 probe in the soft mould for vrorms. 



In describing the song of the Californian Thrasher 

 Mr. Williams says that mingled with its own peculiar 

 notes are various imitative sounds, as the " quare, quare, 

 quare " of the jay, the '^ kwee-kwee-kuk " of the Western 

 robin, the piping call of the valley quail, and the harsh 

 cackle of the flicker. 



710 a. PASADENA THRASHER. — Toxostoma redivivum 



Family : The Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



Length: About 12.00. 



Adults : Similar to the Californian thrasher, but colors duller, chest-band 



darker ; throat white. 

 Geographical Distribution : Interior of Southern California. 

 California Breeding Range : Below Transition zone in the San Diegan 



district. 

 Breeding Season : December to May. 



The Pasadena Thrasher is a local subspecies of the 

 Californian thrasher. There is one authentic record of 

 eggs laid by this bird on December 16, and from tlus a 

 very pretty story, entitled " X California Christmas 

 Carol," has been woven in "The Sunset," January, 1903, 

 which describes the affair as if it were the ordinary habit 

 of this bird to rear his brood at Christmas tide. The 

 usual nesting season begins late in January and extends 

 to the middle of May, though nests have occasionally 

 been found later. 



