394 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and outer webs of the secondaries to decided chestnut brown. The 

 general coloring of the under parts is pale fulvous with a strong tinge 

 of rusty chestnut across the breast, along the sides, and over the anal 

 region and crissum. The breast is obsoletely spotted, but the plumage 

 elsewhere, both above and below, is entirely immaculate." 



Several other young birds, somewhat older, show varying degrees 

 of intensity of the rusty tinge and its distribution, and considerable 

 variation in the amount and distribution of the spotting on the breast. 

 He continues : 



Several of these young birds are so nearly similar to specimens of H. hendirei 

 in corresponding stages that they can be separated only with great difficulty. The 

 stouter bill and entirely black lower mandible of palmeri may, however, always 

 be depended upon as distinguishing characters ; and, moreover, the pectoral 

 spotting of hendirei is usually (but not invariably) finer and sharper, and the 

 rusty tinge above paler and less extended. 



The adults present a good deal of variation, most of which is apparently 

 seasonable. Winter specimens have the lower abdomen, with the anal region and 

 crissum, rich rusty-fulvous, while the markings beneath are similar in character 

 to those of true curvirostris and the spots equally distinct, numerous and widely 

 distributed. With the advance of the season, and the consequent wear and tear 

 of the plumage, the spots gradually fade or disappear. Indeed some of the June 

 specimens are absolutely immaculate beneath, although most of them, like 

 Mr. Ridgway's types have a few faint markings on the abdomen. In this 

 condition the general coloring is also paler and grayer, and the fulvous of the 

 crissum and neighboring parts often entirely wanting. 



The postnuptial molt of adults, and apparently the postjuvenal 

 molt of young birds, begins late in July and continues through August ; 

 old birds look very much worn, bedraggled, and faded at this season. 



Food. — The food of Palmer's is very similar to that of the other 

 thrashers, including numerous insects and their larvae as well as 

 various fruits and berries. Its feeding methods remind one of our 

 eastern brown thrasher. It is fond of water and comes freely to 

 bird baths and other places where it can find water about houses, as 

 well as resorting to open water holes. Florence Merriam Bailey 

 (1923) writes: 



One was seen drinking from a dripping faucet and another seen perched on 

 top of a viznaga reaching down with its long curved bill digging out the shining 

 black seeds and the moist pulp which the House Finches had also found a ready 

 source of both food and moisture. A Thrasher accidentally caught in a trap, 

 January 28, had an empty crop but a gizzard full of seeds of cactus (Opuntia 

 sp. ?), and the shrubbery hackberry (Celtis pallida), a few oat shells, one 

 grain, a few insect remains, apparently ants, and some gravel. One of the 

 birds was seen, February 3, walking in the mesquite pasture, flipping up cow- 

 chips as he went, evidently looking for insects or other toothsome morsels below — 

 a scorpion had been found under one of them. 



Mr. Stafford (1912) says: "I have seen my birds spend much time 

 in the yard half squatting, with braced feet, digging holes of consider- 

 able depth (some as deep as 21/2 inches) with quick, powerful blows of 



