1923 BIRDS OF THE SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS 53 



throughout the ni^ht in such a chorus of melodious throats that sleep was 

 difficult in our tents among the trees. 1 have never seen so many Mocking- 

 l)irds in any area as among these live oaks nor have I ever forgotten the won- 

 derful effect of their jubilant night songs. By day they Avere not very notice- 

 able and sang only here and there without any ai)i)roach to the outburst of 

 song evoked ))y the radiance of the moon which changed al! tlie suri'oundings 

 into a fairyland of beauty." 



They were found by Swarth, in June, 1!)03, quite conimon in tlic 

 lower parts of the mountains. They were seen by us througliout 

 our stay, November 20, 1920, to May 6, 1921, chiefly about our camp and 

 the ranch, but occasionally above 4,000 feet. One was heard singing softly in 

 January. They were seen eating hackberry seeds. Two or three had been 

 seen daily by Howell, August 15-19, 1918, near Continental ; and they were 

 noted by us at Continental, Tucson, and about ranches in the Santa Cruz Val- 

 ley. At Rosemont, on January 15, 1928, Taylor twice saw a Mockingbird, 

 perching on top of the oaks near the ranger station, as if staying in the 

 locality. 



Toxostoma curvirostre palmeri. Palmer Thrasher 

 An adult was taken by Nelson, June 5, 1884, at Gardner's Ranch. Tt was 

 found by Swarth, June, 1903, abundant out on the mesa and frequently seen 

 in the lower canyons; and by Howell, July 28, 1918, abundant everywhere in 

 the low country south of Tucson and abundant August 15-19, 1918, near Con- 

 tinental. One was taken by Bailey, October 28, 1913. Tn 1920-1921 we found 

 it common about the Nicholson Ranch and in the surrounding mesquites. 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 the seeds of cactus 

 (Oinintiafip. ?), and the shrubby 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. 



The three-syllabled liquid tce-dh-lah was heard commonly all winter and 

 the loud strident call occasionally, and on the morning of January 12. while 

 the ground was still covered with Avhite frost, a soft Ioav song was heard com- 

 ing from one of the birds sitting fluffed up in the cold. The song was heard 

 again on January 19 and February 3, and on March 4, one was heard sing- 

 ing loudly from the peak of a tent at Continental. 



Two of the birds hunted familiarly about the ranch-house during the 

 Avinter, taking advantage of the "jerky" line when the meat was drying, and 

 apparently considered nesting in a large cholla cactus near the house where 

 remains of a former nest Avas found. On March 14 a fcAV fresh sticks AA^^ere 

 seen there and tli(^ male came and sang near them. l)ut the pair evidently de- 



