Vol. XXn Clark, Curved-billed and Pahners Thrashers. 21 7 



1904 J / 



Of the above sets, numbers 4, 18 and 27 were laid by the same 

 bird, a new nest being built for each set. The dates were March 

 14, 1898; March 30, 1898; and April 19, 1898. 



The similarity of these nine eggs is very striking, and they dif- 

 fer a little in shape, which is elongate ovate, from all the other 

 eggs. 



Following are the averages taken from thirty-one sets. Average 

 number of eggs in a set, 2.55. Average height of nest from 

 ground, 4.2 feet. Of these nests twenty-seven were in cholla 

 cactus, three in sibiri cactus, and one in palo verde tree. My 

 earliest record for eggs was March i, and most birds were nest- 

 ing by March 14, and the second set is laid about April 20. 



Generally the spots or specks are more thickly sprinkled on the 

 eggs of the Curved-billed than those of Palmer's and the ground 

 color is a little darker. But the description of one will do for the 

 other. 



The shape of the eggs varies a great deal, from ovate to elon- 

 gate, or elliptical ovate. 



The ground color is generally light bluish green, sometimes 

 light green, bluish white or grayish white, minutely specked or 

 spotted with cinnamon brown and lavender. In some eggs the 

 markings are like fine pin points. The less the number of spots 

 the larger they are. Usually there are not as many spots at the 

 small end, and the spots are uniform over the middle and large 

 end of the egg. In some eggs most of the spots are at the large 

 end and in very few we have a wreath. In some the spots are 

 so faint that they can just barely be seen. In no case are the 

 markings so thickly sprinkled as in the average egg of the Brown 

 Thrasher. 



