Bkewstek on a Colhiction of Arizona Birds. 73 



where sharply defined ; in palmeri the outer rectrices are, at the most, 

 barely tipped with pale brown, which either extends squarely across 

 both webs, or fades insensibly into the darker color of the feather. The 

 bill of pahneri, also, is usually longer and more curved than that of 

 curvirosin's. 



8. Harporhynchus lecontei Bonap. Leconte's Thrash- 

 er. — The great rarity of Leconte's Thrasher, even in the heart 

 of the desolate regions where alone it has so far been found, is 

 still further attested by JSIr. Stephens' experience during the past 

 season, for although he searched for it carefully in all suitable 

 places between Camp Lowell and Riverside (California), he 

 met with only two individuals. These occurred about fifteen 

 miles west of Maricopa, Arizona, in a locality which the accom- 

 panying notes describe as follows : ''Near the middle of ' Fortv- 

 five-mile Desert,' between Maricopa Wells and Gila Bend. No 

 chollas or other cactuses in the immediate neighborhood, but some 

 giant cactuses about a mile away in the hills ; a few mesquites and 

 much scattering low brush in the vicinitv ; nearest water 

 twentv miles away." 



Dr. Cooper is said to have found the species '•rather common'' 

 in the desert between Fort Mohave and the San Bernardino 

 Mountains, California, but Mr. Stephens has thrice traversed this 

 route without seeing a single specimen. In a recent number* of 

 the American Naturalist, however. Mr. E. Holterhort', Jr., speaks 

 of seeing the bird "on the Colorado desert, at a station called 

 Flowing Wells." and gives an interesting description of a 

 nest and set of eggs taken there. "The nest was placed in a 

 palo verde tree, and was a very bulky afiair, measuring externally 

 nine inches in depth and six in width ; the hollow of the nest was 

 full}' three inches in depth. It was so awkwardly situated that 

 much of the base of the nest had evidently been filled in to 

 firmly support the structure. The two eggs were somewhat 

 smaller than those of H. redivlviis. lighter in color, and marked 

 all over with finer reddish spots, thicker at the larger end." 



I am inclined to consider the Maricopa specimens above referred to as 

 adults, although this is not so clear in the case of the male, portions of 

 whose plumage suggest that of a young bird. B-oth are in worn, ragged 

 condition, but there is no indication of any moult, save upon the wings 

 and tail, where many of the feathers have been replaced by new ones 

 which are conspicuous ainong the others by their fresher coloring. 



* Vol. XV, No. 3, March, 1881. 



