THE AUK: 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



VOL. XVIII. July, 1901. No. 3. 



BENDIRE'S THRASHER. 



BY HERBERT BROWN. 



Bendire's Thrasher {Harporhynchus bendirei) differs ma- 

 terially from its cactus haunting kin. Beyond the structure and 

 composition of the external nests they have but little in common. 

 Its habitat in Arizona is confined largely to the central southern 

 portions of the Territory. It seldom or never leaves the flat coun- 

 try for the rough and barren hills as do the H. palmeri. They 

 are smaller, prettier, less common, migratory and strangely silent. 

 At rare intervals, when disturbed from their nest, I have heard 

 them tirup, tiriip^ tii'iip in a sort of reproachful disapproval of 

 being molested, but it could be a delightful songster if it would. 

 Once, and only once, I heard one in a grand outburst of song. I 

 had to positively convince myself that I was not mistaken, and I 

 was not. I then realized that if unsung melodies were sweet, this 

 feathered grace would queen the plains. 



During the winter months an occasional one can be found in 

 their usual habitat, but, as a whole, they go south bodily on the 

 first fall storm of wind or rain. The return migration is more 

 gradual, but always of uncertain date. I have known the dift'er- 

 ence of a full month to exist in their homecoming in two succeed- 

 ing years. This was probably due to climatic conditions further 

 south. I infer this from the fact that the latest arrival of which I 

 have record was made during an early spring in southern Ari- 

 zona. 



