FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 115 



This species has been obtained on the southern coast of California, and 

 through to the valleys of the Gila and the Rio Grande. In California it 

 was obtained near San Francisco by Mr. Cutts and Mr. Hepburn ; at Santa 

 Clara by Dr. Cooper ; at Monterey by Dr. Canfield ; in the Sacramento 

 Valley by Dr. Heermann ; at San Diego by Dr. Hammond ; at Fort Tejon 

 by Mr. Xantus ; at Saltillo, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch ; in New Mexico 

 by Captain Pope ; and at Fort Thorn by Dr. Henry. 



Lieutenant Couch describes it as a shy, quiet bird, and as found in woody 

 places. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this bird at Pueblo Creek, New Mexico, January 

 22, 1854. It lirst attracted his attention early in tlie month of January, in 

 the Aztec Mountains, along Pueblo Creek. There it was often met with, 

 but generally singly. It inhabited the thickest bushes, and its motions were 

 so constant and rapid, as it hopped from twig to twig, that they found it 

 difficult to procure specimens. Its flight was rapid, and near tlie ground. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of this species as a common and resident bird in all the 

 lower districts of California, and to quite a considerable distance among the 

 mountains. It was also found on the islands of Catalina and San Clemente, 

 distant sixteen miles from the mainland. Thougli found in New Mexico, 

 Dr. Cooper has met with none in the barren districts between the Coast 

 Range and the Colorado, nor in the valley of the latter. 



Their favorite residence is said to be in thickets and in oak groves, where 

 they live mostly on the ground, scratching among the dead leaves in the 

 concealment of the underbrush, and A^ery rarely venturing far from such 

 shelter. They never fly more than a few yards at a time, and only a few 

 feet above the ground. In villages, where they are not molested, they soon 

 become more familiar, take up their abodes in gardens, and build their nests 

 in the vicinity of houses. 



Dr. Cooper gives them credit for little musical power. Their song is said 

 to be only a feeble monotonous trill, from the top of some low bush. Wlien 

 alarmed, they have a note something like the mew of a cat. On this account 

 they are popularly known as Catbirds. He adds that the nest is made 

 on the ground, under a thicket, and that it is constructed of dry leaves, 

 stalks, and grass, mingled with fine roots. The eggs, four or five in number, 

 are greenish-white, minutely speckled with reddish-brown, and measure 

 one inch by .70. 



Dr. Coues found this species a very abundant and resident species in 

 Arizona. It was rather more numerous in the spring and in the fall than at 

 other times. He found it shy and retiring, and inhabiting the thickest brush. 

 Its call-note is said to be almost exactly like that of our eastern Catbird. 

 He describes its song as a rather harsh and monotonous repetition of four or 

 six syllables, something like that of the Uuspiza americana. He found 

 females with mature eggs in their ovaries as early as May 5. 



A nest of this species, collected by Mr. Ridgway near Salt Lake City, 



