402 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the nest was "composed of dry grass, lined with feathers," and con- 

 tained four eggs. 



Eggs. — Four eggs seems to be the usual set for the Brownsville 

 thrasher, though some of the sets consist of only three ; this, if true, 

 is quite at variance with the custom of the species elsewhere. The 

 eggs are evidently indistinguishable from those of Palmer's thrasher, 

 and show the same variations in size, shape, and markings. The meas- 

 urements of 40 eggs average 27.1 by 19.7 millimeters; the eggs showing 

 the four extremes measure 32.3 by 20.5, 26.5 by 22.5, 22.5 by 19.0, and 

 25.0 by 17.5 millimeters. Note that the greatest breadth and the least 

 length are the same, a most unusual variation! The next shortest 

 Q.^'g measures 24.9 and the next broadest 21.6. 



There is little more to be said about the habits of the Brownsville 

 thrasher, which seem to be quite similar to those of the species else- 

 where. Mr. Sennett (1879) says: 



It is resident where found, commences to breed in March on the Rio Grande, 

 and rears several broods in a season. The first is hatched in April, and gener- 

 ally numbers four. By the middle or latter part of May, clutches for the second 

 brood are full, and consist nearly always of three eggs. I have taken, however, 

 a few sets of four from the second laying. * * * By the 1st of April, the 

 plumage becomes faded and worn ; and, by the latter part of May, moulting be- 

 gins. About this time, also, the small black fruit or berry of the como-tree, 

 upon which the bird feeds, ripens, and it becomes almost impossible to shoot and 

 prepare a specimen without the plumage becoming stained with the purple juices 

 which issue from the mouth and vent. * * * Were the country thickly set- 

 tled, this bird might become as domestic as the Mockingbird or Robin. 



Elsewhere (1878) he says: "I do not remember hearing its song, 

 but I am told by the residents of the country that it sings very sweetly 

 in secluded places, but never in confinement." Dr. Merrill (1878), 

 on the other hand, says : "I cannot confirm the praises of the song of 

 this bird given by Couch and Heerman : it seems to me to be one of 

 the most silent of the song Thrushes. Its alarm note is a sharp wliit- 

 whity 



R. D. Camp told Dr. Friedmann (1929) that he had found this spe- 

 cies, near Brownsville, to be imposed upon by the dwarf cowbird. 

 This is, I believe, the only case recorded for any of the races of this 

 species. 



TOXOSTOMA REDIVIVUM REDIVIVUM (Gambel) 

 CALIFORNIA THRASHER 

 Plates 78-80 

 conteibuted by robeet s. woods 



HABITS 



The California thrasher is appropriately named, as it is one of a 

 number of birds of various families that, while common and widely 

 distributed in California, are almost exclusively confined to that 



