_Harporhynchus curvirostris_, var. _palmeri_, RIDGWAY, Report King’s
Expedition, V, 1872.
SP. CHAR. Bill slender, moderately curved; fifth quill longest; fourth
and sixth just perceptibly shorter, and equal; second equal to ninth;
first 1.55 shorter than longest. General plumage uniform
grayish-umber, paler below, becoming almost dirty whitish on the
throat and abdomen; lower part of the breast and abdomen with a very
few just discernible irregular specks of a darker tint; lower
tail-coverts dilute isabella-brown, more ochraceous at their margins;
anal region and lower part of abdomen light ochraceous. No bands on
wings, and tail-feathers only diluted at the tips. Maxillary stripe
whitish with transverse bars of dusky. “Iris orange.”
♂ (No. 8,128, “New Mexico” = Arizona, Dr. Heermann): wing, 4.30; tail,
5.00; bill (from nostril), 1.00; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe (without
claw), 1.00. ♀(49,723, Camp Grant, Tucson, Arizona, March 12, 1867;
Dr. E. Palmer; with eggs): wing, 4.15; tail, 4.85; bill, .95; tarsus,
1.25; middle toe, .90.
HAB. Eastern Arizona (Tucson).
This very curious race seems to unite the characters of _curvirostris_
and _lecontei_; in fact, it is so exactly intermediate between the
two, that we are almost in doubt as to which it is most nearly
related. Having the stout form and larger size, as well as the spots
on the abdomen, of the former, it has also the uniform colors and
general appearance of _lecontei_. Were it not that the nest and eggs,
with the parent accompanying, had been received from Dr. Palmer, we
might be tempted to consider it a hybrid between these two species,
its habitat being exactly between them, too. We have great pleasure in
dedicating this curious form to Dr. Edward Palmer, who has added very
much to our knowledge of the Natural History of the interesting region
where the present bird is found.
_Description of nest and eggs._—(13,311, Camp Grant, Arizona; Dr.
E. Palmer). Nest very bulky,—9 inches in height by 6 in width.
Very elaborately constructed. The true nest, of symmetrical form,
and composed of thin grass-stalks and flax-like fibres, is
enclosed in an outer case of thorny sticks, thinly but strongly
put together. This inner nest has a deep cavity measuring 4
inches in diameter by 3 in depth.
Eggs (two in number) measure 1.16 by .85; in shape exactly like
those of _C. curvirostris_; pale blue (deeper than in
_curvirostris_), rather thinly sprinkled with minute, but
distinct dots of pale sepia-brown. Markings more distinct than
those of _curvirostris_. R. R.
The nest was situated in a cactus-bush, four and a half feet above the
ground.
Dr. Palmer remembers nothing special concerning its habits, except
that the bird was very shy, and kept much on the ground, where it was
seen running beneath the bushes.
Harporhynchus redivivus, var. lecontei, BONAP.