60 Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting 



The first showers of the rainy season appear to be the signal 

 for nesting to begin ; but a few species seem to anticipate this, 

 and commence operations with the rains which fall in April. 



1. TuRDus GRAYii. " Cien-sonte." San Geronimo. Bird and 

 several eggs. 



The nest of this Thrush is described in * The Ibis/ vol. i. p. 6, 

 and the egg figured on pi. 5. 



The nest of the " Cien-sonte " is usually to be found in the 

 hedge-rows and stunted bushes. The bird though common, is 

 very shy. 



2. MiMUS GRACILIS. " Cien-sonte mejicano." San Geronimo, 

 May 30, 1860. Bird and several eggs. 



General colour of the egg (Plate II. fig. 2) pale greenish grey, 

 blotched with spots of red-brown and two shades of faint lilac. 

 Axis 1*05 in., diam. '7. 



I see in my note-book that at this date (May 30) the breed- 

 ing-time of this species is very advanced, it being among the 

 earliest to begin building. Most of the nests I have taken were 

 in the Nopales or cochineal-plantations, the nests being placed in 

 the cactus. They are also to be found in the hedge-rows and 

 bushes of the plain, usually in somewhat exposed places, about 

 5 or 6 feet from the ground. I have unfortunately neglected 

 to send the nest, which is peculiar in having its rim or edge 

 crowned with a circle of long thorns. The complement of eggs 

 is three, and frequently two or three eggs of the " Tordito " 

 {Molothrus ceneus). In one instance I found in the same nest 

 two eggs of the Mock-bird and five of the " Tordito.^' 



The " Cien-sonte mejicano " is a shy bird, and does not easily 

 fall a victim to the bird-catcher, by whom it is much persecuted 

 for its unrivalled powers of song. I have known as much as 

 six and even ten dollars refused for a good songster. 



3. SiALiA wiLSONi. " Azulejo." Bird and four eggs. 



The eggs of this bird are too well known to need description. 



Four eggs, without nest, which was destroyed, from the high 

 coarse grass which grows in the uncultivated parts of the cane- 

 field. 



