68 CHARACTERS OF HARPORHYNCHUS BENDIRII 



white, palest (nearly white) on the belly and throat, more decidedly rusty- 

 brownish on the sides, flanks, and crissum, the breast alone marked with 

 numerous small arrow-head spots of the color of the back. Bill light colored 

 at base below. $ : Length, about 9; wing, 4 j tail, 4J ; bill (chord of cul- 

 men), ; along gape, 1; tarsus, 1 ; middle toe and claw, 1. $ rather 

 smaller ; wing, 3f , &c. 



This species is allied to, and in some respects intermediate between, H. 

 curvirostris palmeri and H. cinereus ; its closest relationships being decidedly 

 with the latter, though the appearance of the under parts is altogether dif- 

 ferent. It is distinguished from palmeri in being much smaller, with a much 



FIG. 10. Head of Arizona Thrasher, nat. size. 



shorter and differently shaped bill, different proportions of tarsus and toes, 

 and obviously different coloration (compare measurements and description). 

 It comes much nearer H. cinereus, in spite of some decided differences both 

 of form and color. In the latter, the bill, though of nearly the same length, 

 is more curved; the tarsus is not longer than the middle toe and claw ; the 

 third-sixth quills of the wing are about equal and longest, the second 

 being about equal to the eighth ; while the under parts are as distinctly and 

 heavily spotted as those of H. rufus itself. The two are of about the same 

 size, and in the coloration of the upper parts are much alike. While fully 

 recognizing fthe close relationships of H. bendirli to H. cinereus in fact, hav- 

 ing insisted upon them from the outset, when it was assumed that the bird 

 was nearer palmeri I am not prepared to assent to Mr. Henshaw's 

 reduction of the species to a variety of cinereus. I recognize the conscien- 

 tious care with which he has made his comparisons, and regret that I can- 

 not agree with conclusions so drawn, unlike those of Mr. D. Scott, which 

 rest upon hasty speculation. 



The synonymy and characters of H. cinereus,* with a figure of the head, 

 are given in the subjoined note, to facilitate comparison. 



* HARPORHYNCHUS CINEREUS. Saint Lucas Thrasher. 



llarporhynchllS Cinereus, Xant. Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 298 (Cape Saint Lucag). Baird, 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 303 (the same). Scl. Cat. AB. 1861, 8. Bd. RAB. 1864, 46. 

 Elliot, BNA. pi. 1. Coop, B. Cal. i. 1870, 19.-^-Ooues, Key, 1872, 75. Cones, Am. Nat. 

 vii. 1873, 327, 331, f. 70. B. B. (f R. NAB. i. 1874, 40, pi. 4, f. 2. 



HAB. Lower California. 



CH. SP. $ $ Fusco-cinereus, infra albus, maculis parvis, distinctis, fuscis; 

 alis cauddque fuscis, illis albo-bifasciatis, hac albo-terminatd. 

 ^ ^ : Upper parts uniform ashy-brown, the wings and tail similar but 



