Mar., 1909 
AMONG THE THRASHERS IN ARIZONA 
53 
twelve were found in March, ten in April, and five in May, the latest date being 
May 14. One nest in a eholla contained four young birds about half grown. 
Three weeks later another nest in the same cactus was found containing three fresh 
eggs. Possibly it was a second nesting of the same pair of birds. March 7 I 
removed a set of three eggs from a nest in a eholla, and on the 22d noticed some 
fresh grass lining in the nest. About a week later the nest contained two fresh 
eggs. In this case the birds evidently occupied the same nest a second time, some- 
thing I have rarely seen except among Raptores. Another nest, also in a eholla, 
was found containing the usual number of three eggs. A second visit to the nest 
showed two of the eggs broken and nest deserted. I removed the shells and re- 
maining egg and two or three weeks later found the nest again occupied by three 
fresh eggs, tho no fresh lining or repairs could be detected. About three weeks 
afterward I investigated and found the eggs addled and nest again deserted. As 
CHOCCA CACTUS CONTAINING FIVE OLD CACTUS WREN’S NESTS, AND FOUR OLD 
AND ONE NEW NEST OF THE PALMER THRASHER 
the cactus was only a few yards from a trading post, and a few feet from a well- 
traveled road, the birds had probably been disturbed too often. This eholla was 
evidently a favorite nesting place as it contained at the time five old Cactus Wrens' 
nests and four old and one new nest of the Palmer Thrasher. The entire plant was 
less than five feet in hight. 
This thrasher is a close sitter and when disturbed leaves the nest, but soon 
returns showing much concern. Both parents usually show up, approaching as 
near as six feet and uttering the usual two-syllabled call, tho sometimes using the 
guttural scolding note. The nest is a bulky affair but well built. The nest proper 
is three or four inches deep, inside measurement, and above this is a superstructure 
or rim from two to three inches high. Several nests seen measured over six inches 
deep. Rather coarse twigs are used in the construction and the lining is mostly of 
