TUEDID.E — THE THRUSHES. 45 



species. A single specimen was obtained by Dr. Leconte near Tort Yunui, 

 and described by Mr. Lawrence in 1851, and remained unique for many 

 years. In 1861 Dr. Cooper presented a paper to the California Academy 

 of Sciences, in which this bird is given among a list of those new to that 

 State. He then mentions that he found it common about the Mojave lli^•er, 

 and that he procured two specimens. 



Dr. Coues, in his valuable paper ou the birds of Arizona, speaks of obtain- 

 ing, in 1865, a specimen of this rare species on a dry plain covered thickly 

 with mesquite and cactus, near Fort Mojave. This bird was very shy and 

 restless, fluttered hurriedly from one cactus to another, until he at last shot 

 it where it seemed to fancy itself hidden among the thick fronds of a large 

 yucca. Its large stout feet admirably adapt it for its partially terrestrial 

 life, and it apparently spends much of its life upon the ground, where it 

 runs rapidly and easily. Its flight he describes as swift but desultory, and 

 accompanied by a constant flirting of the tail. He considers this species as 

 inhabiting the whole valley of the Colorado and Gila, and thinks that it 

 does not leave the vicinity of these streams for the mountains. 



Dr. Cooper found a nest of this species, but without eggs, built in a yucca, 

 and similar to that of H. redivivus. In his Report on the Birds of Cali- 

 fornia, Dr. Cooper speaks of finding this bird common on the deserts, along 

 the route between the Colorado Valley, wherever there was a thicket of low 

 bushes surrounded by sand-hills. Its notes, habits, and general appearance 

 were like those of H. redivivus. 



Harporhynchus redivivus, Caban. 



CALIFORNIA THRASHER. 



Harpes rediviva, Gambel, Pr. A. N. S. H, Aug. 1845, 264. Toxostoina rcdiviva, Gambel, 

 J. A. N. Sc. 2d ser. I, 1847, 42. — Cassin, lUust. I, 1855, 260, pi. xlii. Harporhyn- 

 chus redivivus, Cabanis, Archiv Natnr^. 1848, 98. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 349 ; 

 Rev. 48. — ScLATER, P. Z. S. 1859, 339. — Cooper, Buds Cal. I, 15. 



Sp. Char. Wing much rounded ; the second quill shorter than the secondaries. Tail 

 much graduated. Bill much decurved, longer than the head. Above brownish-olive, 

 without any shade of green ; beneath pale cinnamon, lightest on the throat, deepening 

 graduahy into a brownish-rufous on the under tail-coverts. The fore part of the breast 

 and sides of the body brown-olive, lighter than the back. An obscure ashy superciliary 

 stripe, and another lighter beneath the eye. Ear-coverts and an indistinct maxillar}' stripe? 

 dark brown ; the shafts of the former whitish. Ends and tips of tail-feathers obsoletely 

 paler. Length, 11.50 inches ; wing, 4.20 ; tail, 5.75 ; tarsus, 1.55. 



Hab. Coast region of California. 



Habits. The California Thrasher appears to have a somewhat restricted 

 distribution, being confined to the coast region of California, where, however, 

 it is quite abundant. It was first met with by Dr. Gambel, near Monterey. 

 The specimens were obtained on the ground wliere they Avere searching for 



