PERCHING BIRDS 



711. Leconte's Thrasher. Toxostoma lecontei 



lecontei. 



Range. — Desert regions of southwestern United States, 

 chiefly in the valleys of the Gila and Colorado Rivers. 



This species is much pah r 



than the last and has a shorter 



bill. It is fairly common bul 



locally distributed in its n 



and nests at low elevations in 



bushes or cacti. The three or 



four eggs are pale greenish blue, 



sparingly dotted with reddish 



brown. Size 1.10 x .75. Data. — 



Phoenix, Arizona, April 2, 1897. 3 eggs. Large uesl 



of dry twigs, rootlets, etc., lined with bits of rabbit hair 



and feathers; 4 feet from the ground in a small shrub. 



Pale greenish blue 



71 la. Desert Thrasher. 

 arenicola. 



Toxostoma lecontei 



Pale g • e e n i s h blue 



Range. — Northern Lower California. 



This form of the last is said to differ in being darker 

 above. It is a very locally confined race, chiefly about 

 Rosalia Bay, Lower California. Its eggs will not be distinctive. 



712. Crissal Thrasher. Toxostoma crissale. 



Range. — Southwestern United States from western Texas y 

 to eastern California; north to southern I'tah and Nevada. 



This species may be known from any other of the curve- 

 billed Thrashers by its grayish underparts and brigiit 

 chestnut under tail coverts. These sweet songsters are 

 abundant in suitable localities, nesting at low elevations in 

 chaparral. Their nests are large, and bulkily m 

 sticks and rootlets; the eggs range from two to four in num- 

 ber and are pale greenish blue, unmarked. Size 1.10 x .75. 



713. Cactus Wren*. Ilrlra-li/f.s brunnef- 



capillus couesi. 



Range; — Southwestern United Stated from 

 Texas to eastern California: north to southern 

 Nevada and Utah. 



This species is the largesl of the Wrens, be 

 ing 8.5 inches in length. They are very com 

 in on in cactus and chaparrel di-trh 

 thej nes1 at tow elevations in bushes or cacti. 

 making large pur ■ haped structun 



es and thorny t\\iu>>. lined Willi t'eathor- 



and with a small cut ranee 

 mi,' end. They raise two or 

 three brood- a j ear, the flrsl 

 --.■t ni' .■-u- being laid earl; in 

 April; tb.i ire creamy 



white, (bitted, so 1 1 1 i c ■ k 1 > 



eh (iiic the ground color, with 



pale reddish brown, -'size .95 



\ .65. Data. Placentia, Cal. 



\. i in cactus about <; feel from the ground; 



made ol id lined u it h teathers and rab 



bit fur; m-t 8 inches in diameter. IS Inch* 



April 



i > white 



:\ 



