THE LE CONTE THRASHER 195 



right upon her. And then when she goes she 

 leaves as silently as a mouse with never a word 

 of protest or the faintest cry to show any sign 

 of alarm. She simply slips over the back of the 

 nest and is gone. 



Mr. French Oilman, of Banning, California, 

 because of his long residence on the desert and 

 his intelligent interest in birds, is, perhaps, 

 better acquainted with the habits and manner- 

 isms of the Le Conte thrasher than are most 

 Western birdmen. With his permission I am 

 here appending in effect his words concerning 

 the call notes and singing habits in general of 

 this hermit bird : 



"My introduction to this interesting bird, 

 Toxostoma lecontei, was during the summer 

 of 1882 when with his whistling note he con- 

 firmed my earlier belief in ghosts. In a mes- 

 quite and creosote bush thicket at Whitewater 

 Ranch on the Colorado Desert was buried a 

 Mexican horsethief who had died with his boots 

 on. Near this thicket I frequently wandered, 

 though it was said to be haunted. On several 

 occasions a whistle sent me to the ranch house 

 to see what was wanted, but when I got there it 



