364 Stafford, Notes on Palmer's Thrasher. [july 



Its two or three note call is sharp and startling, like the "sing"^ 

 of a whip stroke echoing upon itself. These, together with low 

 trills and Wren-like chatters, uttered at times when the birds are 

 together, were the only notes I heard; and the song is not to be 

 confused with the feverish, rollicking music of the Bendire's 

 Thrasher {To.rostoma hendirci) — a bird nearly as common in this 

 region as palmeri. 



For its nesting site the Palmer's Thrasher, selects the cholla 

 cactus {Opimtia cholla) almost exclusively, so that one finds it 

 difficult to think of the one apart from the other. This cactus is a 

 formidable plant of light green color, which is scattered now thickly 

 now sparsely over the desert and low mesas, and fairly bristles 

 with barbed spines. In almost every one of good dimension I 

 found a Thrasher's nest, or the remnants of one. Most of the 

 nests are quite unconcealed, for concealment in such a site is both 

 difficult and apparently unnecessary. I have noticed, however, 

 that the nests were usually overhung by some portion of the 

 cactus, possibly for shade. The birds perch readily on the bristling 

 cactus branches, and somehow manage to step between, or gingerly 

 over, the thickset spines. I seemed to have observed a certain 

 cautiousness exercised in the performance, but it is skilfully and 

 easily accomplished without mishap. The Thrashers are fully 

 aware of the danger, however, for the branches in the immediate 

 neighborhood of the nest are completely disarmed, the spines 

 having been bent at the tip or broken off, so tljat comfortable 

 roosts and safe passage to and from the nest are assured — obvi- 

 ously the work of the bird's bill. 



When I arrived at the ranch on January 16, 1912, the pair were 

 conspicuous daily about the yard, usually appearing together and 

 seldom wandering far from each other in their various activities. 

 The male was in song, his favorite perch being the roof-end of the 

 shed whence he could view his nest and domain, and where I was 

 able to photograph him from as near as ten feet while he alternately 

 carolled and preened in the sun, totally indifferent to me. My very 

 gradual approach, gentle movements, and appearance of distrac- 

 tion disarmed his suspicion, and the click of the shutter was the 

 cause of only mild and transient interest. I was surprised to 

 observe how little man as an enemy is feared by many of the birds 



