218 



THE OOLOGIST. 



The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is ofteu 

 confouuded with the Fork-tailed Fly- 

 catcher [Milvilus tyrannus), as in the 

 second edition of Davie's North Ameri- 

 can Birds. 



J. H. Tallichet, 



Austin, Tex. 



California Thrasher. 

 {Harporhyiichus redivivus.) 



One who has wandered tlirough the 

 many retired glens of the coast region 

 South Galiforuia has surely been at- 

 tracted by the brilliant song of the Cali- 

 Thrasher, and perhaps studied the ha- 

 bits of the plainl}- robed bird. This 

 curved-billed.drab-garbed bird, in com- 

 pany with the Caliornia Towhee, 

 frequents the districts where mosquitos 

 and scrub-oaks abound, and here it 

 dwells throughout the year, a happy 

 tenant of the wooded glades. 



It is pleasant, indeed, to withdraw 

 one's self from the feved and strife of the 

 world and seek some secluded nook 

 that still lingers in its pristine wilder- 

 ness and beaut3% where the untrodden 

 flowers bloom and the very air seems 

 like a breathing from a rarer world, 

 and there, amid the splendor of vernal 

 garniture, listen to the varied strains 

 of the Sylvan choirs. Such are the 

 haunts of the Thrasher and thither must 

 the lover of birds repair to catch the 

 most eloquent strains sf the Thrasher's 

 medlej': 



"Here, like the nightingale, she pours 



Her solitary lays. 



Nor asks a witness to hear her song, 



Nor thirsts lor human praise." 



When the lirst notes are heard, guid- 

 ed by the sounds, glide noiselessly 

 through the green, quiet vale until but 

 -an intervening shrub screens you from 

 the musician and, reclining upon the 

 scented sward, prepare to listen to the 

 joyful song. The bird first indulges in 

 a few tentative notes while secreted in 



the foliage of the underbrush. These 

 seem satisfactory, but he must ascend 

 to the top of the tree before he breaks 

 into song. Up he flutters, limb after 

 limb, stopping at intervals to test his 

 voice anew. Soon he disdains any in- 

 ferior perch and mounts to the topmost 

 limb of the tree. His throat rolls, his 

 notes come forth full and clear; his 

 throat swells and his breast throbs as 

 his song grows louder and sweeter; 

 mingled with his natural tones are l)its 

 of consummate mimicry. The bird 

 seems carried away with the fervor of 

 his song, his whole frame is agitated, 

 he is transported to realms of bliss. 



So euravished is the listener that the 

 song of a more distant bird scarcely 

 breaks upon his ear, no soc^ner had the 

 lay of the Thrasher echoed throughout 

 the vale than a second bii'd burst into 

 emulous song, thus they sing in gener- 

 ous rivalry and make the quiet haunts 

 reverberate with their varied strains. 



The song of the Thi'asher is not limit- 

 ed to any particular season but can be 

 heard throughout the year, and in win- 

 ter it seems as rich and varied as in the 

 da3'S of courtship and match-making. 

 Oftimes the Thrasher wanders from his 

 accustomed haunts and seeks the pres- 

 ence of man to entrance him with his 

 powers of song. 



The hours usually chosen for their 

 musical exercises are at break-of-day 

 and eventide. Long before the other 

 birds are stirring or the streaming 

 light breaks upon their nest, e'er the 

 condor, majestic monarch of the bound- 

 less I'ea'.m of air, sweeps from his crag- 

 gy perch, the Thrasher awakens from 

 his slumbers, dashes the dew-drops 

 from his wing and seeks a lofty altitude 

 to herald the coming day. The first 

 sound that breaks upon the quiet vale 

 and echo through the gnarled oaks is 

 this morning carol. But it is when the 

 last sun I'ays are fading in the west, in 

 the ravi-shiug gleam of twilight when. 



