1S84.] Stephens on Leconte's T/iasher, etc. 357 



time and went. The call-note still sounded from a little distance 

 to one side, and I concluded that it came from a third bird of this 

 species. The other bird in sight did not appear alarmed, and 

 perhaps had not seen me. I worked a little closer, when it 

 passed leisurely through to the opposite side of the bush. I 

 began to get a little puzzled by its unsuspicious actions, but 

 commenced imitating the call-note, when I was much pleased 

 to hear it reply. I succeeded in calling it out in sight, where I 

 shot it. On picking it up its actions were explained. It was 

 a bird of the year, and when I skinned it a few hours latei I saw 

 that it could not have been out of the nest many days. 



The call-note is something like huie-e., whistled through the 

 teeth. It is low and musical. H. bendirei has a somewhat 

 similar call-note, though much louder and sharper. My shot 

 probably alarmed the one I heard, as I could find nothing of it, 

 nor of the other one I saw. 



Half an hour later I saw another H. lecontei running over 

 the sand, it having seen me first. A sharp run and some dodging 

 among the bush brought me near it, with its suspicions lulled. 

 Profiting by my former experience I began calling it. Presently 

 it answered, and after a little careful calling I got it to sing in a 

 low tone, occasionally stopping to utter its call- note. After a 

 little it gained more confidence and came out in full vievy, but 

 some movement of mine alarmed it, and it dove into the bush 

 like a flash and was off" without my getting a shot. I followed 

 it some time, and got a long range shot but missed it. 



I turned toward camp, and as I passed along it occurred to me 

 that as the one I first saw had been in the same place again I 

 might be able to find it there once more. As I had now learned 

 the locality pretty well, I worked up ver}- carefully and succeeded 

 in finding him in the old place without his seeing me. I took no 

 chances, but immediately fired and killed him, finding him to 

 be a fine adult. 



I came out again in the afternoon, seeing three, perhaps some 

 of those seen before, but got none. 



The next morning we started for home. Some two or three 

 miles from Agua Caliente I saw a bulky nest in a cholla cactus 

 by the side of the road. It struck me as appearing like a 

 Thrasher's nest, and I got out to examine it. It contained three 

 eggs, which I at once saw were new to ine. They were evident- 

 ly those of some Harporhynchits., but certainly not rediviviis. 



