596 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



From the small portion of this subspecies' range that penetrates into 

 south-central Oregon, Gabrielson and Jewett (1940) state "Patterson 

 (MS.) furnished dates of numerous nests at Ashland between May 2 

 and June 14 * * *." 



The measurements of 20 eggs average 24.2 by 17.9 millimeters; the 

 eggs showing the four extremes measure 25.Jj. by 17.8, 23.9 by 18.8, 

 23.1 by 17.8, and 23.5 by 17.1 millimeters. 



Distribution 



Bange. — The Sacramento towhee is resident from the interior of 

 southwestern Oregon (Grants Pass, Medford) south through the 

 northern interior coast ranges, the western and southeastern slopes 

 of the Sierra Nevadas, and the Great Valley of California (Hoopa 

 and Mount Shasta to Vacaville, and Kings and Tulare counties; 

 Laws, Olancha). 



Egg dates. — California: 4 records. May 1 to June 12. 



PIPILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS FALCIFER McGregor 



San Francisco Towhee 

 Contributed by Oliver L. Austin, Jr. 



Habits 



Harry S. Swarth (1913) characterizes this subspecies as "Coloration 

 dark; white markings more restricted than in megalonyx but much 

 more extensive than in oregonus. Hind claw smaller and weaker than 

 in megalonyx." Within its narrow range along the northwest Cali- 

 fornia coast, Grinnell and MiUer (1944) consider it a "Permanent 

 resident. Common generally, although sparse in extreme north- 

 western part of range." They describe its habitat as: 



"Chaparral and forest undergrowth as in other races of Spotted 

 Towhees * * *. Apparently avoids the dense brushlands of the fog- 

 swept coastal slopes of Humboldt and Del Norte counties, although 

 P. m. oregonus finds suitable wintering grounds there in some of the less 

 compact tracts of plant growth. Elsewhere jalcijer occupies heavy 

 chaparral on shaded canyon slopes, as also streamside tangles, low 

 second growths of forest trees and the understory of oak and madrone 

 woodlands. Blackberry vines, wUlow thickets, baccharis and poison 

 oak brush, and ceanothus and manzanita bushes commonly constitute 

 the essential plant cover." 



Milton S. Ray (1906) notes this race "nests in low bushes, scrub oaks 

 or wiUows, or among overhanging blackberry vines. I have never 

 found a nest placed on the ground, except once." Emerson A. Stoner 



