326 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



seen near streams in that region ; lower on the plains any growth of 

 shrubbery is selected. The rim of the nest is flush with the level of 

 the ground, the birds scratching the hollow large enough to contain the 

 nest, which is strongly built of bark strips, blades of dry grass, and 

 usually lined with yellow straw. The eggs are four or five, averaging 

 .94x.6g. Their ground color is white, slightly tinged with greenish- 

 and covered with dots and small spots of reddish-brown and lavender 

 most numerous at the large end. Some specimens are so densely cov- 

 ered with the markings that the ground color is hardly distinguishable. 



5880. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx (BAIRD.) [2380.] 



Spurred Towhee. 



Hab. Rocky Mountain region westward to Southern California, north to Eastern Washington Terri- 

 tory, south into Northern Mexico and Lower California. 



The Spurred Towhee Bunting is the prevailing form of the Rocky 

 Mountain region New Mexico, Arizona, etc. Its habits, nesting and 

 eggs are substantially the same as those of P. erythrophthalmus. Mr. 

 S. C. Evans found several nests of this bird near Riverside, California, 

 all of which were placed in low bushes. Mr. Emerson says the bird 

 is quite common in the vicinity of Haywards, California, where he has 

 taken many of its nests. The nearest he has ever found the nest to 

 the ground was about ten inches. In other localities, however, it is 

 known to nest on the ground like the Eastern Towhee. 



The sizes of a set of four eggs in Mr. Norris' collection taken near 

 Haywards, California, are .89 x .70, .90 x .70, .89 x .70, .88 x .71. They 

 have a light pinkish-white ground, thickly sprinkled and speck- 

 led with vinaceous-cinnamon. 







588. Pipilo maculatus oregonus (BELL.) [238^.] 



Oregon Towliee. 



Hab. Pacific coast from British Columbia south to Santa Cruz, California. 



The Oregon Ground Robin is a resident in the western portion of 

 the State of Oregon and Washington Territory during the sum- 

 mer, and in the more northern portions of California. The nest is 

 placed on the ground and sometimes in bushes, on stumps, etc., like 

 the Eastern Towhee's. It is composed of grasses and leaves, with a 

 lining of fine grass. Mr. Anthony mentions finding an egg of this 

 species in the nest of the Rusty Song Sparrow. In color and general 

 appearance the eggs resemble those of P. erythrophthalmus. A set of 

 four in Mr. Norris' collection, taken May 12, are pinkish-white, 

 thickly speckled with vinaceous and vinaceous-cinnamon ; their sizes : 

 .94 x .70, .92 x .69, .91 x .71, .95 x .71. 



