California RrOU'n Tovvhee (PipHocrissalis und varieties) 



Length: About 9 iiicho. ihc- luiij^ tail aiwl brown pluniaf^c with wliitc belly 

 distinguish these ground- and thicket-loving birds. 



Range. — Southwestern ( )regon, through California to northern Lower C ali- 

 fornia 



The IJrown Towhees, of which the California form is a good type, are char- 

 acteristic of the brushy canyons of the far west, where they skulk and hide among 

 the shrubbery and cactus much as do the common eastern towhees. Their jxjwers 

 of wing are not great and their long tails and heavy bodies render their flight 

 awkward in the extreme. On the ground, however, they run with great ease and 

 speed. In California brown towhees are common in the ])arks and gardens, and 

 iti every way are very much more familiar than the related towhee of the east. 

 Like its eastern cousin, it is much addicted to scratching among leaves and rub- 

 bish, for which work its stout legs and claws are particularly adapted. The thin 

 "tchij)." which is the call note, seems out of all proj)ortion coming from ^uch a 

 stout, vigorous body. The birds of this group are not hue songsters, but their 

 simple ditties are pleasant to hear in the waste places where they are gener- 

 ally found. 



The brown towhee is much more of a vegetarian than an insect eater, and 

 in California Professor Beal found that 85 per cent of its yearly food consists of 

 fruit, grain and weed seeds. 



Birds' Christmas 



Why not make a Christmas present 



To the birds that with us stay 

 When the snowHakes fast are falling. 



And the skies are dull and gray? 

 Just a little bag of suet 



That can dangle from a tree 

 Will the woodpeckers give pleasure; 



While the merry chickadee 

 May be made supremely happy 



By crumbs scattered round our door ; 

 And as soon as these are eaten 



He will quickly chirp for more. 

 At Christmas, the time of giving. 



Heed then these advising words, 

 And do not neglect to furnish 



Some such present for the birds. 



— Xellie M. Cove, in Our Dumb Au'unols. 



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