66 HABITS OF THE CURVE-BILLED THRASHER 



have seen. (In the figure, the bill is rather too stout). Average dimensions 

 of four specimens of both sexes : length, 10.75 ; wiug, 4.33; tail, 5.00; chord 

 of culmen, 1.12; tarsus, 1.25 ; middle toe and claw rather more. 



This form was first indicated, in 1853, by Professor Baird, who noted the 

 peculiatities of a specimen (No. 8128 of the National Museum) collected near 

 Tucson, Ariz., by Dr. A. L. Heermann, whose notice is above quoted. This 

 same specimen afterward became a type of Mr. Ridgway's var. palmeri, as 

 first published by rne, from his MS., in the " Key ", p. 351 (1872). 



THE habitat of the true Curve-billed Thrush is stated to 

 extend to the southern border of the United States. This 

 would bring it within the area the birds of which are treated 

 in the present volume ; but it will be understood that the re- 

 marks which follow relate to the northern variety, which, so 

 far as we know, is peculiar to Arizona. It was discovered near 

 Tucson by Dr. Heermann, wlio has left a short note of his 

 observations, and its peculiarities were first noted by Professor 

 Baird, although it was not named or formally described as dis- 

 tinct until 1872. In 1873, I gave a short account of the bird in 

 the "American Naturalist", as above quoted, accompanied by a 

 figure of the head (here reproduced, as are the others illustrating 

 the speciesof this genus), drawn from specimens sent to me while 

 I was in Dakota by Lieut. C. Bendire, United States Army. This 

 gentleman's memoranda accompanying the specimens indicated 

 that the habits of the bird are much the same as those of other 

 Thrashers ; and that it nests in cactus, mezquite, and other 

 low bushes, laying usually three eggs. Two sets of eggs which 

 he obtained were taken, one July 18, the other August 20. 

 They measure about 1.10 inches in length by 0.80 in breadth, 

 and are pale dull greenish- blue, speckled evenly and profusely 

 with reddish-brown dots. 



Later observations, made by Mr. H. W. Henshaw in Arizona, 

 afford further insight into the life of this bird. He found it 

 common in the dreary desert region about Camp Lowell, where 

 it was associated with H. hendirii and R. crissalis, and easily 

 distinguished it during life by certain peculiarities of flight. 

 It frequented the edges of the mezquite thickets, hopping 

 lightly over the ground in search of insects. It flew rapidly, 

 keeping generally close to the ground, retreating when alarmed 

 from one thicket to another, and hiding in the dense brush. 

 Sometimes, when startled, it mounted to the tops of the mez- 

 quites with quick nervous movements and continual jetting 

 of the long tail, emitting meanwhile a succession of loud cluck- 



