“This bird is abundant. I have not only seen it in Northern California, but also as far south as Texas, on the borders of the Rio Grande. It is shy and retiring in its habits, and when startled, flies low for some distance, and plunging into a thicket, alights on the ground, and so conceals itself, that it is not again easily found. It runs or hops on the ground with considerable facility and speed.
“Among the feathered songsters of Western America, this bird is the most superior, and its song is a striking feature in the localities where it is found. Its notes are equal in harmony to those of the Mocking bird of the United States, though not so varied. To the miners it is well known by the name of the California Mocking bird, and it is with them a great favorite.
“It incubates in California, but the only nest that I ever found contained young in the month of July. This nest was composed of coarse twigs and lined with slender roots, not very carefully constructed, and resembling somewhat those of some other of the Thrushes.”
Dr. Henry has also observed this bird in the vicinity of Fort Fillmore, rather abundantly, particularly during the months of October and November. It has been noticed, too, by nearly all the other naturalists who have visited California and New Mexico.
The figure in our plate is rather less than half the size of life.
The plant represented is a species of Vernonia, from the neighbourhood of Santa Fé, New Mexico, and was raised from the seed by Mr. Robert Kilvington, of this city.
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Toxostoma. Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 528. Harpes. Gambel, Proc. Acad., Philada., II. p. 264. (1845.)
Bill long, much curved, somewhat depressed, blunt; ridges of both mandibles strongly defined; wings short, rounded; first quill short, fourth and fifth and sixth longest; tail long; legs robust; toes rather long; claws large, strong; plumage of the upper parts loose; feathers of the rump lengthened. A genus containing four or perhaps five species, all of which inhabit the western and southwestern countries of North America.
Toxostoma rediviva. (Gambel.) Harpes rediviva. Gamb., Proc. Acad. Philada., II. p. 264. (1845.)