60 
Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting 
The first showers of the rainy season appear to be the signal 
for nesting to begin; but a few species seem to anticipate this, 
and commence operations with the rains which fall in April. 
1. Turdus grayii. “ Cien-sonte ” San Geronimo. Bird and 
several eggs. 
The nest of this Thrush is described in f The Ibis/ vol. i. p.6, 
and the egg figured on pi. 5. 
The nest of the * Cien-sonte * is usually to be found in the 
hedge-rows and stunted bushes. The bird, though common, is 
very shy. 
2. Mimus gracilis. “ Cien-sonte mejicano” San Geronimo, 
May 30, 1860. Bird and several eggs. 
General colour of the egg (Plate II. fig. 2) pale greenish grey, 
blotched with spots of red-brown and two shades of faint lilac. 
Axis 1*05 in., diam. *7. 
I see in my note-book that at this date (May 30) the breed¬ 
ing-time of this species is very advanced, it being among the 
earliest to begin building. Most of the nests I have taken were 
in the Nopales or cochineal plantations, the nests being placed in 
the cactus. They are also to be found in the hedge-rows and 
bushes of the plain, usually in somewhat exposed places, about 
5 or 6 feet from the ground. I have, unfortunately, neglected 
to send the nest, which is peculiar in having its rim or edge 
crowned with a circle of long thorns. The complement of eggs 
is three, and frequently two or three eggs of the ‘ Tordito ’ 
[Molothrus ceneus). In one instance I found in the same nest 
two eggs of the Mock-bird and five of the f Tordito/ 
The ‘ Cien-sonte mejicano 5 is a shy bird, and does not easily 
fall a victim to the bird-catcher, by whom it is much persecuted 
for its unrivalled powers of song. I have known as much as 
six and even ten dollars refused for a good songster. 
3. Sialia wilsoni. “ Azulejo.” Bird and four eggs. 
The eggs of this bird are too well known to need description. 
Pour eggs, without nest, which was destroyed, from the high 
coarse grass which grows in the uncultivated parts of the cane- 
field. 
