424 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



any great distance from water, and one of the first lessons he gives his 

 brood is to take a morning splash. It is well worth rising at 4 a. m. 

 to see him plunge so eagerly into the cold water and splash it in a 

 shower of sparkling drops. The bath over, he flies up to the top of a 

 tall bush to preen his wet feathers and fill the air with melody." 



Voice. — Like most of the other thrashers, the crissal is a gifted song- 

 ster. Dr. Mearns (1886) pays the following tribute to its music: 



One of the first traits that we noticed about it was that it possessed a song of 

 very remarliable scope and sweetness, having all the power of the Mockingbird, 

 and an evenness and perfect modulation which that bird may well envy. It 

 is one of the few birds that truly sing; and it shares, in this Territory, this rare 

 gift with its three congeners — Bendire's, Palmer's and LeConte's Thrashers. It 

 is no warbler of pretty ditties, nor yet a medley singer like the Eastern Thrasher 

 or the Mockingbird, but discourses pure, natural music from the top of the tallest 

 bushes, where it perches, with its tail hanging down, in precisely the same atti- 

 tude as the Brown Thrasher of the East. Its season of song is more protracted 

 than that of any other species with which I am familiar. Its best efforts are 

 put forth during the mating season, in February, March, and April ; but, except 

 during July and August, when the heat becomes intense and the Thrasher's 

 plumage is bleached almost to whiteness, and worn to tattered shreds amongst 

 the thorny chaparral in which it finds food and some shelter from the sun, 

 it sings commonly throughout the year. The warm sunshine of a winter's day 

 sufl5ces to bring out its full song, which perchance has been hushed by a cold snap 

 and flurry of snow. At first come a few notes of doubtful confidence, barely suf- 

 ficing to remind one that it can sing ; then a thoughtful, somewhat desultory song, 

 till the power of the tropical sun asserts itself, or the genial influence of its 

 mate is felt, when the harmonious soliloquy grows into a serene and dignified 

 performance that challenges attention and excites admiration. The Orissal 

 Thrasher is a shy bird, and only sings when it fancies itself secure from intru- 

 sions upon its solitude ; but, about ranches, where it associates with man, it loses 

 some of its wildness and becomes more confident and trusting. 



After the autumnal moult, when berries, grajies, and other acceptable food 

 is plentiful, there is a distinct revival of song in this species. It has no loud 

 call-note like the other species. 



Mrs. Wheelock (1904) remarks that "every note is sweet, true, and 

 perfect, but the whole lacks the spasmodic brilliancy we are accus- 

 tomed to expect in his family. It has a more spiritual quality but 

 less dash." 



Mrs. Bailey (1928) mentions "its call notes ^queety-queety' and a 

 scolding ^chay W. L. Dawson (1923) refers to "a solicitous note, 

 pichoory^ pitchoory^ or yitchree' " ; also, "one very earnest fowl, near 

 Tucson, remarked, PichoGri harriW^ fichoori karrik' in quite a brisk 

 manner." 



Field TYiarks. — The crissal thrasher was formerly called the red- 

 vented thrasher, on account of the deep reddish brown of the under 

 tail coverts and crissum, from which, also, the name crissal was 

 derived. This color, which is darker and richer than in any of the 

 other thrashers, is one of the best field marks when it can be seen. 

 The crissal somewhat resembles the California thrasher, with a similar. 



