es, chiefly in the
valleys of the Gila and Colorado Rivers.

This species is much paler than the last and has a shorter bill. It is
fairly common but locally distributed in its range and nests at low
elevations in bushes or cacti. The three or four eggs are pale greenish
blue, sparingly dotted with reddish brown. Size 1.10 x .75.
Data.--Phoenix, Arizona, April 2, 1897. 3 eggs. Large nest of dry twigs,
rootlets, etc., lined with bits of rabbit hair and feathers; 4 feet from
the ground in a small shrub.

711a. DESERT THRASHER. _Toxostoma lecontei arenicola._

Range.--Northern Lower California.

This form of the last is said to differ in being darker above. It is a
very locally confined race, chiefly about Rosalia Bay, Lower California.
Its eggs will not be distinctive.

712. CRISSAL THRASHER. _Toxostoma crissale._

Range.--Southwestern United States from western Texas to eastern
California; north to southern Utah and Nevada.

This species may be known from any other of the curve-billed Thrashers
by its grayish underparts and bright chestnut under tail coverts. These
sweet songsters are abundant in suitable localities, nesting at low
elevations in chaparral. Their nests are large, and bulkily made of
sticks and rootlets; the eggs range from two to four in number and are
pale greenish blue, unmarked. Size 1.10 x .75.

713. CACTUS WREN. _Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi._

Range.--Southwestern United States from Texas to eastern California;
north to southern Nevada and Utah.

This species is the largest of the Wrens, being 8.5 inches in length.
They are very common in cactus and chaparrel districts, where they nest
at low elevations in bushes or cacti, making large purse-shaped
structures of grasses and thorny twigs, lined with feathers and with a
small entrance at one end. They raise two or three broods a year, the
first set of eggs being laid early in April; the eggs are creamy white,
dotted, so thickly as to obscure the ground color, with pale reddish
brown. Size .95 x .65. Data.--Placentia, Cal., April 15, 1901. Nest in
cactus about 6 feet from the ground; made of grasses and lined with
feathers and rabbit fur; nest 8 inches in diameter, 18 inches long.

[Illustration 425: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 711--712.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Cactus Wren.]
[Illustration: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 424

713a. BRYANT'S CACTUS WREN. _Heleodyte