46 KOUTII AMHRICAN BIRDS. 



coleopterous insects. Dr. Ileerinaiui afterwards found this bird abundant 

 in the southern jiart of (,'aUfornia. It was ditlicult of ajiproach, diving into 

 tiie tliick bushes, running some distance on tlie ground, and becoiniug alter- 

 wards unapproacliable. He si)eaks of its song as a flood of melody equalled 

 only by the song of tlie Mocking- IJird {Mimus puliiijliitlus). Colonel McC'all 

 also describes its song as of exquisite sweetness, " placing it almost beyond 

 rivalry among the countless songsters tliat enliven the woods of America." 

 Jle also states that it is as retiring and simide in its manners as it is brilliant 

 in song. 



In the character of its flight it is said to strongly resemble the Brown 

 Thraslier (//. riiftis) of the Eastern States. Their harsh, scolding notcfs, 

 wlien their nest is approaclied, their motions and attitudes, are all very 

 similar to those of //. vuJ'uh under like circumstances. Colonel McCall 

 ranks the song of this species as far sui)erior to that of any other Tinnish. 

 Without ])ossessing the powerful voice or imitative laculties of the Mock- 

 ing-Bird, its iu)tes are described as iiaving a liquid mellowness of tone, with 

 a clearness of expression and volubility of utterance that cannot be sur- 

 ])asse(l. 



A nest of this bird i'ound liy Dr. lleernuinu was conqiosed of coarse twigs, 

 and lined with slender roots, and not very carefully constructed. Mr. Hep- 

 burn writes that a nest found by him was in a thick bush about five feet 

 from the ground. It was a very untidy alfair, a mere pliittor:n of sticks, 

 almost as carelessly put together as tiuit of a i)igeon, in which, tliough not 

 in tlie centre, was a shallow depression aliout 4 inches in diameter, lined 

 with tine roots and gra.ss. It contained two eggs with a blue ground thickly 

 covered witli soot-colored spots conthu'nt at tlie larger end, and in coloring 

 not unlike tiiosc of the Tunliiti KMnlitttix. The eggs measured 1.19 inches 

 by .81 of an inch. Dr. (\)oi)er gives tlieir measurement as I.IO of an incli 

 liy .8.1 Two eggs belonging to the Smithsonian Institution ("^,040, a and b) 

 measure, one l.l!) by .81, tlie other 1.14 liy .U.S. The former has a blui.sli- 

 green ground spar.sely s])otted with olive-lirowii markings ; the other has a 

 ground of a light yellowisii-greeii, witli numerous spots of a russet lirown. 



The general cliaracter of their nest is, as described, a coarse, rudely con- 

 structed platform of sticks and coai.se grass and mosses, with but a very 

 slight deim'ssiou. Occasionally, Iiowever, nests of this bird are more care- 

 fully and elal)oratcly maile One (l."),(l72) obtained near Monterey, by Dr. 

 Canlield, lias a diameter of iiudies, a height of .S, with an oblong-oval 

 cavity 2 inclies in deptli. Its outside Mas an interweaving of leaves, stems, 

 and mosses, and its lining fine long filirous roots. 



These birds are cliietly fomid frequenting the dense chaparral that lines 

 tlie Iiillsides of California valleys, forming thicket.s, conqiosed of an almost 

 iiupenetrable growth of thorny shrubs, and affording an inviting shelter. 

 In such jilaces they reside througiiout tlie year, feeding upon iiis(!cts, for 

 the procuring of which tlieir long curved bills are admirably adapted, as 



