FIJ^CHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 367 



same note, and in flight the robin-lilve scree p' -eep-eep of his group. 

 In the mountains, the canyon towhees are found among rocks and 

 along ledges of canj'ons. At Mineral Park, Arizona, Mr. Bailey 

 found them abundant in February. They were noisy and so tame 

 that they would come into camp to feed on scattered crumbs and 

 grain. In New Mexico outside of the mountains, Mr. Batchelder 

 found them about ^Mexican villages and irrigated flelds. 



591b. P. f. crissalis {Vig.). California Towhee. 



Adults. — Entire upper parts plain dull grayish brown, slightly deeper on 

 head ; throat light rufous, usually marked with dusky ; 

 middle of belly whitish or dull buffy, sides grayish 

 browu ; under tail coverts reddish brown. Youn'i : like 

 adults, but brow ner. wing bars and edgings pale brown- 

 ish ; under parts dull buffy, deepening to tawny on 

 throat and belly, and grayish brown along sides; ante- 

 rior lower parts streaked. Male: length (skins) 8.0-3- 

 9.:)0. wing;i7o-4.08, tail 4.22-4..-).5, bill .56-.(J5. Female: *''g- "^^O. 



length (skins) 8.-24-8.('.0, wing :15T-:5.88, tail 4.14-4.38, bill ..5()-.Go. 



Remarks. — Crissalis is like mesoleucus, but larger and darker. 



Distribution. — California, west (jf Sierra Nevada, north to Mendocino 

 and Shasta counties, south to Santa Barbara and Kern counties, and north- 

 ern part of San Bernardino County. 



Nest. — In bushes or trees, usually 2 to G feet from the ground, made of 

 inner bark, twigs, and weed stems, lined with plant stems and sometimes 

 horsehair and wool. -Eggs : 4 or 5, pale blue, spotted with purplish brown. 



The California members of the fuscus group have a thin chip 

 which gives them the name of brown chippies, the robin-like call of 

 mesoleucus, and a song which, though a trifle squeaky for such a 

 large bird when heard too close at hand, has a quiet, contented qual- 

 ity that matches the bird's disposition and is very pleasing. When 

 given in concert in the canyons at dusk the song is said to be 

 most effective. Though shy and wary about his nesting grounds, 

 when his family cares are over the brown chippie comes to the door- 

 yard and stays there more familiarly than the Brewer blackbird. 

 Although he also makes himself at home on city lawns and in parks, 

 he is especially fond of barnyards and hay lofts, where he can 

 scratch in the straw and pick up seeds to his heart's content. When 

 he flies his short wings and long tail give him a bobbing, awkward 

 motion, but when sitting about the dooryard his plump, fluffy figure 

 affords him a most comfortable domestic look. 



691c. P. f. senicula .!»///"////. San Fehnanoo Towhkk: Anthony 



ToWHKK. 



Like rrissa/is. l)ut smalbM-. iipp<'r parts darker, and lower parts gravi'r. 

 Male: length (skins) S.O.VS. li'. wing ;;.4S-:;.<»7, tail ;5.1).")-4.42, bill ..j(i-.(L'. 

 Female: Wing .l.oS-;;..".*;, tail ;5.'.i:;-4.0l', bill ..")T-.()0. 



Distrihutinn. — From soiitlit'rn California south to Lower California. 



