LECONTE THRASHER. 
711. Toxostoma lecontei. 10% inches. 
Range.—Southern and Lower California to Mexico. This 
is the lightest in color of any of the family, and has taken 
on the color of the sand of the low hot deserts in which 
it lives. Where it is so hot and dry that even the cactus 
and thornbush are stunted in their growth, where the ground 
is covered with the small varieties of cacti, with spines 
like needles. In such a place one cannot imagine that a 
bird would be as full of song as in a shaded piece of wood¬ 
land, yet this bird has the same qualifications, and morning 
and night his voice may be heard, pouring out as rich a song 
as his brother of the north. Their nest, composed of twigs, 
weeds and lined with grass, is usually very bulky, and placed 
in low mesquite trees or cactus. The eggs are lighter in 
color than above, and with fewer and finer spots of brown 
(1.10 x .75). 
CRISSAL THRASHER. 
712. Toxostoma crissale. 11 inches. 
Range.—From Utah and Nevada to southern and Lower 
California and Texas. This species is somewhat darker, and 
more rufous on the under tail coverts than the above. 
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