in investigating the country about the wells in 
San Felipe Canyon, Several Verdins and 
Phainopeplas were taken, and the females 
showed that incubation had begun. ‘Three 
species of Gnatcatchers were shot—Plumbeous, 
Western Blue-gray, and the Black-tailed. The 
Plumbeous was evidently incubating. 
A single Western Yellow-throat was met and 
Bullock’s, Arizona Hooded, and Scott’s Orioles 
lit for a short time in the ironwood trees near 
by. The latter were very shy. Other species 
met with were Least and Warbling Vireos and 
Wilson’s Warbler. The 24th was spent in tray- 
eling to Borego Springs, Brewer’s Sparrows 
being common along the way. - Just at sun- 
set the clear, soft call note of Leconte’s 
Thrasher was heard from far across the plain, 
but a search the next morning failed to reveal 
the bird. A few Plumbeous Gnatcatchers were 
seen, and a nest of the Verdin containing four 
incubated eggs was found in a catclaw. In an 
arroyo east of Borego the perpendicular cliffs 
of hard clay offer nesting sites for Say’s Phoebe. 
One or two White-throated Swifts were dashing 
about as if contemplating nesting in some of 
the ledges later on. It was in this arroyo that 
Mr. Stephens dug two Swifts out of a hole 
March 23, 1890, but was too early for eggs. 
Travel was resumed to Salt Creek, a water 
hole, about fifteen miles south of the southern 
end of Salton Lake. The valley was a mile or 
more in width, covered with a scattered growth 
of chollas and creosote brush. A few mesquite 
trees of rather large size grew along the wash, 
and were carefully scanned for a possible nest 
of Leconte’s Thrasher. About five miles east 
of Borego a Thrasher flew across the wash from 
a large mesquite and was secured, proving to be 
a fine adult male. A nest and four eggs of this 
Thrasher were tound near by, which had evi- 
dently been abandoned for several days. Three 
of the eggs were pipped, and the nest was very 
large, just filling a large-sized water pail, in 
which it was packed. Its composition was 
almost entirely thorny mesquite twigs with a 
scant lining of grass, and was supported by a 
number of small branches about four feet from 
the ground. A nest and six badly incubated 
eggs of California Shrike were taken from a 
mesquite. Mockingbirds were very common 
all along the route, and among their many ac- 
complishments they one and all had acquired 
the notes of the Pinon Jay. It seemed to be a 
favorite with them and was rendered with won- 
derful precision. As the Mockingbirds are 
hardly expected to reach the coniferous belt the 
theory is advanced that the note was learned 
by a few Mockingbirds from a wandering flock 
of Jays, and the others had picked up the call 
from them. 
THE NIDOLOGIST 31 
On the 26th birds were scarce, only a few 
Zonotrichia tyrannus and an occasional Mock- 
ingbird being noted. A few miles farther on.a 
pair of Leconte’s Thrashers flew from a thick 
mesquite, separating and running through the 
low, scrubby brush at a wonderful rate, only 
one bird being secured. 
The next few days were given to collecting in 
what was once the bed of the Gulf of Califor- 
nia. The country was very sandy, large sand 
dunes being the principal objects of attraction. 
A pair of Thrashers were flushed from a sand 
drift and secured, both proving to be young, 
though fully grown, Near by a female was shot, 
which contained a clutch of three eggs about 
to be deposited. In two days spent about Salt 
Creek the following species were noted: Tur- 
key Vulture, Swainson’s Hawk, Cinnamon Teal, 
Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, 
and Mockingbird. <A few Zonotrichia and Lin- 
coln’s Finches skulked along the edges of the 
mesquite thickets. Two or three Sora Rail, one 
Coot, and three Cranes were seen one morning. 
One Audubon’s Warbler, a few Swallows, and 
perhaps a Zyrannus comprised the migrants. 
One Cormorant was seen, but not identified. 
A few Plumbeous Gnatcatchers and Phainope- 
plas were the only resident species; these were 
rare and nesting. 
March 29 the journey was resumed toward 
Carriso Creek. A few Horned Larks were seen 
on the sandy waste, and one specimen secured 
was a very pale form, probably referable to 
Arenicola, At Carriso Creek migrants were 
abundant. In the creosote bushes and mes- 
quitewere many Audubon’s, Wilson’s, Lutescent, 
and Macgillivray’s Warblers, Western Blue-gray 
Gnatcatchers, Lincoln’s Finches, and White- 
crowned Sparrows. Bullock’s and Arizona 
Hooded Orioles, Titlarks, and Yellow-headed 
Blackbirds were also noted. White-throated 
Swifts were rather common about the cliffs. 
Above Palm Springs a family of Leconte'’s 
Thrashers was found, and two immature birds 
secured. Another bird, an adult female, that 
had evidently laid a set of eggs, was taken 
within five miles and in plain sight of the pine 
belt, at an altitude of two thousand feet. Mr. 
Anthony’s series of Thrashers for the trip was 
eight birds, five being immature. From a care- 
ful comparison of skins and study of the notes 
taken he thinks the nesting must begin in Janu- 
ary and last nearly or quite four months. Dr. 
Merriam records young, half-grown, as late as 
June 27 (Awf, January, 1895). At least two 
broods are raised, and the nesting is very ir- 
regular. 
Mr. F. W. Koch, of Berkeley, related his ex- 
perience with Leconte’s Thrashers on the desert, 
describing one instance of where he flushed a 
