468 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



eggs collected on May 24, 1883, in San Gorgonia Pass, California, by Mr. Herron, 

 are 1.13x.75, 1.07x.77, 1.08x.77, 1.14x.75. The average is 1.07x.76 inches. 



712. CmSSAL THBASHEB. Harporhyuchus crissaiis (Henry.) Geog. Dist.— 

 New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah, Southeastern California and northern portion 

 of Lower California. 



This is a common species in suitable localities throughout New Mexico, Arizona 

 and Southeastern California. Dr. Mearns states that it is abundant all over the 

 Verde River bottom lands, preferring mesquite thickets and the vicinity of streams. 

 He says it is one of the few birds that truly Sing; and it shares, in Arizona, this rare 

 gift with its congeners — Bendire's, Palmer's and Lecoiite's Thrashers. Its song is 

 remarkable for its scope and sweetness, having all the power of the Mockingbird, 

 singing from the tops of the tallest bushes in the same attitude as the Brown 

 Thrasher of the East. Like the rest of the Thrashers it is highly terrestrial, and runs 

 swiftly on the ground from bush to bush, often jetting its long tail upward, more or 

 less above the horizontal. They breed about the same time as Bendire's Thrashers. 

 Mr. Scott found eggs in the Catalina Mountains of Arizona during the first week in 

 April that were about ready to be hatched, and young birds fully fledged were ob- 

 served as early as May 1. Dr. M;earns saw young birds that were strong on the wing 

 by the end of April. Two broods are reared, and the number of eggs laid, so far as I 

 am able to ascertain, is usually three, sometimes four. Dr. Mearns discovered, on 

 two eggs, and two days later it contained four eggs. The proprietors of this^^ 

 two eggs, and in two days later it contained four eggs. "The proprieto'-s of this 

 nest divided their attention between the care of their nest and a family of young not 

 yet able to shift for themselves. The nests,' placed in bushes, are large conspicuous 

 objects, rudely constructed of coarse twigs; the inner nest is made of finer vegetable 

 materials. The eggs are pale greenish-blue, unmarked. The average size is l.OSx 

 .75 inches. 



713. CACTTIS WREN. Beleotlytes hruiineicapillus (Lafr.) Geog. Dist.— South- 

 western border of the United States, from Souther-n Texas to the coast of Southern 

 California; south into Northern and Central Mexico. 



A common bird in the cactus and chaparral regions of Texas, New Mexico, Ari- 

 zona, Southern Utah, Nevada, and Southern California. As its name implies, cactus 

 groves are its favorite haunts. In these, and other thorny shrubs, its nest is placed, 

 which is a very large and purse-shaped affair with an entrance at one end.' It is 

 composed of little thorns and grasses, and lined with feathers. Mr. Shields states 

 that in Los Angeles county, California, there is no grove of cactus along the foothills 

 without these Wrens. He has often found from four to ten nests in a bed of cacti 

 not more than a dozen yards square. Three broods are probably reared, as fresh 

 eggs may be found from the middle of April to the last of July. The eggs are gener- 

 ally five, sometimes four, and occasionally only three. They are white or creamy 

 In ground-color, which is thickly covered with rich, reddish-brown spots or specks, 

 giving to the entire egg a beautiful rich salmon-colored hue. Ten eggs selected out 

 of fifteen sets give the following measurements: .86x.62, .89x.62, .93x.63, .90x.60, .94x 

 .67, .96X.67, .95X.66, .94x.69, .95x.67, .98x.69. The average size is .97x.e5. Their gen- 

 eral shape is oblong-oval. 



713a. BRYANT'S CACTUS WREN. Ilelcodytes hrunneicapillus bryanti tan-, 

 thony. Geog. Dist. — Northern Lower California, north into Southern California. 



