V ilf -^i Lc nisli )»1 1 





711- 



71J 



PERCHING BIRDS 



711- Leconte's Thkashek. Toxostoma Iccontei 

 lecontei. 



Range. — Desert regions of southwestern ITnited States, 

 chiefly in tlie valleys of the Gila and Colorado Rivers. 



This species is much paler 



than the last and has a shorter 



bill. It is fairly common but 



locally distributed in its range 



and nests at low elevations in 



bushes or cacti. The three or 



four eggs a.re pale greenish blue, 



sparingly dotted with reddish 



brown. Size 1.10 x .75. Data.— 

 Phoenix, Arizona, April 2, 1897. 'i eggs, barge nesl 

 of dry twigs, rootlets, etc., lined with bits of rabliit hair 

 and feathers; 4 feet from the ground in a small shrub. 



711a. Desert Thkasiier. Voxos/c/'/a leconlci 



arenicola. ^^k- __*j_^. 



Range. — Northern Lower California. ' 



This form of the last is said to differ in being darker 

 above. It is a very locally confined race, chiefly about 

 Rosalia Bay, Lower California. Us eggs will not be distinctive. 



712. C'rissal Thrasher. Toxosloiitu crissnle. 



Range. — Southwestern United States from western Texas, 

 to eastern California; north to southern Utah and Nevafla. 

 This species may be known from any other of the curve- 

 billed Thrashers by its grayish underparts and briglit 

 chestnut under tail coverts. These sweet songsters arc 

 abundant in suitable localities, nesting at low elevations in 

 chaparral. Their nests are large, and bulkily made of 

 sticks and rootlets ; the eggs range from two to four in num- 

 ber and are pale greenish blue, unmarked. Size 1.10 x .75. 



71.'-i. Cactus Wren. Ileleodyies brnunci*': 



capillu.i couesi. _ "" '„ , "^{, .' 



Range. — Southwestern United States' froiri 



Texas to eastern California; north to soiithern 



Nevada and Utah. 



This species is the largest of the Wrens, be 

 ing 8.5 inches in length. They are very com- 

 mon in cactus and .chaparrel : distriets.i.'seliere 

 they nest at low elevations in bushes or-c'Etcti, 

 making large .piirse-shaped structures; of 

 grasses and thorny twigs', lined with featlters 

 and with a small entrance at 

 one end. They raise two or 

 three broods a year, the first 

 set of eggs being laid early in 

 April; the eggs are creamy 

 white, dotted, so thickly as to 

 obscure the ground color, with 

 pale reddish brown. Size .35 

 X .65. Data.— Placentia, Cal., 

 Nest in cactus about 6 feet from the ground; 

 made of grasses and lined with feathers and rab 

 bit fur; nest 8 inches in diameter, 18 inches long. 

 423 



TalP gi 



sh lilue 



April 



Cactus Wren 



