WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 273 



The song of the Pasadena Thrasher is at its best 

 during the late winter, and is a jolly rollicking rounde- 

 lay, as full of fun and mimicry as that of the Californian. 

 The nesting habits are very similar, modified only by its 

 more southern range. 



711 LECONTE THRASHER. — Toxostoma lecontei. 



Family : The Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



Length: 10.50-11.00. 



Adults : Upper parts light grayish brown ; tail dusky and tipped with 

 lighter ; under parts dove-color, becoming white on throat and belly ; 

 the under tail-coverts bright tawny buff, in marked contrast ; ear- 

 coverts light brownish gray ; a distinct malar stripe of whitish, 

 nan'owly barred with dusky ; a distinct dusky streak along each side 

 of throat. 



Young : Similar to adults, but upper tail-coverts more rusty, and under 

 tail-coverts paler. 



Geographical Distribution : Lower Sonoi'an zone in the desert region 

 from Southwestern Utah to Southern California and south to Mexico. 



California Breeding Range : Desert region of Southeastern California. 



Breeding Season : February to May. 



Nest : Large and bulky ; made of twigs, grasses, and weeds ; lined with 

 feathers ; placed in cactus bushes or mesquite trees from 1 to 7 

 feet from the ground. 



Eggs : 3 or 4 ; pale bhiish green, faintly speckled, chiefly at the larger 

 end, with yellowish brown and lavender. Size 1.07 X 0.76. 



The Leconte Thrasher loves the barren desert as a 

 petrel loves the sea ; and so many generations have its 

 hot suns beaten down upon his race that the character- 

 istic light brown of the family has faded to dull grayish 

 tinged with brown, and his breast has taken on the ashy 

 hues of the alkali dust. Wastes of sand with sparse 

 patches of sagebrush, cactus, and perhaps mesquite are 



18 



