572 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



sLx days old was fed a wintergreen berry so large the young bird could 

 not swallow it, and succeeded in spew^ing it out only after 45 minutes 

 of trying. In addition to smooth larvae, the nestlings are also given 

 hairy caterpillars such as those of the gypsy moth, which the adults 

 first soften well by chewing. Adults also consume large numbers of 

 ant pupae, which they seem to prefer to the adult ants when they 

 uncover and ant nest." 



Behavior. — F. M. Chapman (1932) says: "There is a vigorousness 

 about the towhee's notes and actions which suggests both a bustling, 

 energetic disposition and a good constitution." He continues, "The 

 dead leaves fly before his attack * * *. It is only when singing that 

 the Towhee is f uUy at rest. Then a change comes over him ; he is in 

 love, and, mounting a low branch, he repeatedly utters his sweet bird 

 s-i-n-n-g with convincing earnestness." Such comments are typical 

 expressions of almost aU who have observed this attractive bird. 

 T. E. Musselman (1923), in writing of trapping experiences with 

 towhees in Georgia, adds some interesting notes to the recorded be- 

 havior patterns. A male bird "upon being seized * * * commenced singing 

 and kept up his song until I released him." This unusual reaction 

 occurred on each of 30 captures of this individual. Injury feigning 

 has been recorded for the species by S. A. Grimes (1936) who states 

 that he observed it "rarely." Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway (1874b) 

 note that "They are much attracted to their young, and when ap- 

 proached evince great anxiety, the female thrusting herself forward 

 to divert attention by her outcries and her simulated lameness." 

 E. H. Forbush (1929) adds the following comments concerning the 

 behavior of nesting pairs : 



While the female is incubating, the male waits upon her and occasionally re- 

 lieves her on the nest. As the nest is exceedingly well concealed, and the female 

 dull colored, she can sit until almost trodden upon before she leaves the nest; 

 when finally driven from it she is likely to act as if disabled, thus attempting to 

 lure the intruder away. The young usually remain in the nest ten or twelve 

 days, if not disturbed, until their wings grow strong, but if disturbed they may 

 leave it before they are able to fly. When the young have learned to fly, the 

 family keeps together for a time, but seldom, even in migration, is anything like 

 a close flock formed, for Towhees are not normally gregarious. During and after 

 the molt in August all are rather quiet, and shy. When severe frosts come most 

 of them disappear in the night on their southward migration. 



From his studies of the species in Massachusetts, F. W. Davis 

 writes me: 



"The towhee, when conspicuous, is very much so. It calls, sings, 

 and forages with little or no attempt at concealment, and even flies 

 short distances noisUy in what I term the 'flut flight,' its wings making 

 a thuttering sound audible at some distance. But when it wants to, 

 the bird can be most inconspicuous, remaining quietly out of sight 



