230 PASSERES: Perching Birds 



LECONTE THRASHER 



(711. Toxostoma lecontei lecontei) 10^ in. 



Wholly pale brownish gray above, with darker tail; still 

 lighter below, except tawny under tail-coverts; throat white, 

 outlined against darker cheek. 



Palest of the Thrashers, it harmonizes with the gray of sand 

 and vegetation of its habitat. 



Noted as a great skulker, running or flying close to earth 

 through the brush, and rarely seen more than a few seconds 

 while it inspects the intruder. 



CRISSAL THRASHER 



(712. Toxostoma crissale) 12 in. 



Whole bird grayish brown, dark above, lighter below, with 

 rufous under tail-coverts, and white throat bordered by a 

 narrow black line. 



Usually shy and secretive, but may often be decoyed into the 

 open by whistles or " squeaks" that arouse his curiosity. 



Call: A liquid " quirt." When nest or young are threatened, 

 a plaintive whistled "come dearie." 



FAMILY WRENS 



Generally small birds; mostly short-tailed; thin-billed; 

 chiefly brown or grayish in color. Tail usually held upward at a 

 considerable angle to the body. One species very Thrasher-like. 



CACTUS WREN 



(713. Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi) 8| in. 



A very large Wren, brown-and-white streaked and speckled 

 upper parts; black-spotted below, on white ground; cap brown; 

 spread tail mostly black, with broad white band near tip, and 

 side feathers white-barred. In flight the tail markings are dis- 

 tinctive. 



Has the Thrasher habit of running or flying close to the 

 ground, screened by brush, to escape suspected danger. 



Song: A guttural, imitation warble, from a bush-top. 



