208 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol.12 



Twelve specimens of the erissal thrasher were preserved, nos. 

 13806-13817. 



There is also a specimen in the Museum (no. 4226) taken by J. G. 

 Cooper at Fort ]\Iohave, January 2, 1861; and another (no. 6112) 

 taken by W. W. Holder at "Mineral City" (=Ehrenberg) March 20, 

 1864. 



Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi (Sharpe) 

 Cactus Wren 



Met with in small numbers at most of the collecting stations. 

 Where desert washes led down to the river bottom, cactus wrens 

 occurred locally in the mesquite belt ; but otherwise the species was 

 restricted to the neighborhood of tracts of ironwood, eatclaw, and 

 cactus back from the river. In other words, it was a desert species, 

 not properly a member of the riparian assemblage. 



This wren was evidently resident wherever found, as nests were 

 always to be seen in the vicinity. Specific points of occurrence were : 

 in the Sacramento Wash near Mellen ; both sides of the river in the 

 vicinity of The Needles ; Arizona side above Bill Williams River ; Cali- 

 fornia side at Riverside Mountain ; and same side above Blythe, oppo- 

 site Cibola, twenty miles above Pieacho, eight miles east of Pieacho 

 and four miles north of Potholes. At the latter place in a wash in 

 the giant cactus belt, about two miles back from the river, a nest was 

 found April 23 containing four eggs in which incubation was far 

 advanced. The nest was of usual construction, and was situated five 

 feet above the ground in a dense ehoUa cactus. Other nests were 

 seen at different points, in ironwood, palo verde and mesquite. 



Nine specimens of the cactus wren were taken, nos. 13818-13826. 



Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus (Say) 

 Rock Wren 

 Up to the middle of IMarch common widely on the desert mesas 

 as well as among hills. Noted at every station from the vicinity of 

 Needles and Mellen south to Riverside Mountain. Thenceforth 

 observed only in pairs in restricted localities affording appropriate 

 nesting sites. On the California side opposite Cibola, April 3, a pair 

 of rock wrens were found in a ravine about two miles from the river. 

 Their nest was located in a hole in the rock wall of a gully, only about 

 five feet from the bed. The floor of the opening, and also of some 



