The Bird Book Part 99

These noted birds are very common in the south where they are found, and nest about houses in open woods, fields, and along roadways; their nests are rude, bulky structures of twigs, gra.s.ses, leaves, etc., placed in trees or bushes at low elevations; the three to five eggs are usually dull greenish blue, boldly spotted with brownish. Size .95 .72.

703a. WESTERN MOCKINGBIRD. _Mimus polyglottos leucopterus._

Range.--Southwestern United States from Texas to California, and southward.

This subspecies is as common in its range, and its habits are the same as those of the eastern bird. The nests and eggs are identical with those of the last, and like that variety they frequently nest in odd places as do all common birds when they become familiar with civilization.

704. CATBIRD. _Dumetella carolinensis._

Range.--North America, breeding from the Gulf States to the Saskatchewan; rare on the Pacific coast; winters in the Gulf States and southward.

This well known mimic is abundant in the temperate portions of its range, frequenting open woods, swamps, hillsides and hedges. Their nests are usually low down in bushes or trees, and are constructed similarly to those of the Mockingbird, of twigs and rootlets; a tangled ma.s.s of vines and briers is a favorite place for them to locate their home.

Their eggs are laid in the latter part of May or during June, and are from three to five in number and a bright bluish green in color, unmarked. Size .95 .70.

[Ill.u.s.tration 422: Dull greenish blue.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mockingbird.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Catbird.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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705. BROWN THRASHER. _Toxostoma rufum_.

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the Gulf States north to Canada. Winters in the Gulf States and southward.

This large, handsome songster is found breeding in just such localities as are preferred by the Catbird and the two are often found nesting in the same hedge or thicket. The nests, too, are similar but that of the Thrasher is usually more bulky; besides building in bushes they frequently nest on the ground, lining the hollow under some bush with fine rootlets. Their three to five eggs are laid during May or June; they are whitish or pale greenish white, profusely dotted with reddish brown. Size 1.05 .80.

706. SENNETT'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma longirostre sennetti._

Range.--Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Very similar to the last but darker above and with the spots on the breast blacker and more distinct. This species which is very abundant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley nests the same as the last species in thick hedges and the eggs are very similar to those of the Brown Thrasher, but in a large series, average more sparingly marked over the whole surface and with a more definite wreath about the large end. Data.--Corpus Christi, Texas, May 12, 1899. Nest of twigs and vines in a bush in thicket. Six feet from the ground.

707. CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. _Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre._

Range.--Mexico, north to southern Texas and eastern New Mexico.

This species is a uniform ashy gray above and soiled white below; the bill is stout and decurved. These birds are as numerous in the Lower Rio Grande Valley as are the Sennett's Thrasher, frequenting thickets where they breed in scrubby bushes and cacti. Their nests are rather larger and more deeply cupped than are those of the last species and the eggs can easily be distinguished. They have a ground color of light bluish green, minutely dotted evenly all over the surface with reddish brown.

Size 1.10 .80. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, April 6, 1900. 5 eggs. Nest of sticks and thorns on a cactus in a thicket; 6 feet from the ground.

[Ill.u.s.tration 423: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brown Thrasher.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 707a--708--710.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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707a. PALMER'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma curvirostre palmeri._

Range.--Very abundant in southern Arizona and southward into Mexico.

The nesting habits and eggs of these birds are exactly like those of the last; they show a preference for placing their nests of sticks and th.o.r.n.y twigs upon cacti at elevations below five feet from the ground.

Like the last, they generally raise two broods a season.

708. BENDIRE'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma bendirei._

Range.--Southern Arizona and Mexico; north locally to southern Colorado.

This species is not as abundant in the deserts of southern Arizona as are the last species with which they a.s.sociate. They nest at low elevations in mesquites or cacti, laying their first sets in March and early April and usually raising two broods a season; their three or four eggs are dull whitish, spotted and blotched with brownish drab and lilac gray. Size 1.00 .72. Data.--Tucson, Arizona, April 15, 1896. Nest 3 feet up in a cholla cactus; made of large sticks lined with fine gra.s.ses.

709. SAN LUCAS THRASHER. _Toxostoma cinereum cinereum._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

This species is similar to _curvirostre_ but the under parts are spotted with dusky. Their habits and nests are similar to those of the other Thrashers and the three or four eggs are pale greenish white, spotted with reddish brown. Size 1.08 .75. Data.--Santa Anita, June 3, 1896. 3 eggs. Nest in a cactus.

709a. MEARNS'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma cinereum mearnsi._

Range.--Northern Lower California.

This species is described as darker than the last and with larger, blacker spots on the breast and underparts.

710. CALIFORNIA THRASHER. _Toxostoma redivivum._

Range.--Southern half of California, west of the Sierra Nevadas.

This species is more brownish than the other curve-billed species and has a much longer and more curved bill. They are common in the under brush of hillsides and ravines, where they locate their nests at low elevations. Their nests are made of sticks and gra.s.s, lined with rootlets, and the three or four eggs are bluish green with spots of russet brown. Size 1.12 .82. Data.--San Diego, Cal., Feb. 7, 1897.

Nest of sticks and rootlets in a grease-wood bush 4 feet from the ground. Collector, Chas. W. Brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration 424: Grayish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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711. LECONTE'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma lecontei lecontei._