THE TOWHEE 



By T. GILBERT PEARSON 



^^t il2ationaI Si00ociation ot audubon &ocietif0 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET No. 79 



Not all birds possess strong personalities. Just as among persons there are 

 many who are neither particularly good nor bad, handsome nor homely, 

 brilliant nor stupid. They play an important part in life, to be sure, but they 

 do not attract any great attention nor arouse, on the part of the observer, 

 any special interest or enthusiasm. We all know such people, and I dare say 

 most of us have made the acquaintance of such birds now and then. 



The above statement, however, does not serve to describe the Towhee, 

 except in a negative manner, by calling attention to the fact that it does not 

 belong to the mediocre class, for it is a bird of distinct person- 

 _ ality, being endowed, in a very large way, with what we may 



call "character." The male is especially striking in appearance, 

 and both he and his mate are filled at all times with an energy and bounding 

 activity that challenge the attention and admiration of everyone who is so 

 fortunate as to meet them. 



One cannot watch the Towhee long without imbibing some of the purposeful 

 energy which the bird imparts in its every movement. The ambitious and 

 slothful alike may receive inspiration and wisdom by considering its ways. I 

 am particularly fond of the Towhee, and have long counted his friendship 

 among my most cherished possessions. 



It is about the tenth of April when this bird is usually first seen in the 

 latitude of New York. In rare instances it has been recorded in the winter as 

 far north as Massachusetts, but such cases are very exceptional. Virginia is 

 usually the extreme northern limit of its winter sojourn. 



As a rule it is not quite so trustful of mankind as are some of our better- 

 known lawn and garden species, as, for example, the Robin and House Wren ; 

 nor is it one of those shy denizens of forests and open fields 

 . °g. ^' that rarely venture into a city. In fact it occupies a somewhat 

 middle ground, and to a more or less extent flits between these 

 two groups, and seems fairly well at home in either situation, as might be 

 expected of so well-bred a bird-of-the-world. 



Its occurrence in town, however, would appear to be more common in the 

 autumn than the spring. It seems to prefer to investigate the abodes of man 

 during the period when it has no pressing domestic duties and responsibilities. 

 When nesting-time arrives, therefore, it is best to seek for it along hedge- 

 rows or beside old fences half concealed by shrubbery, from the depths of 

 which often it will announce its presence by its sharp, clear cry chewink. 



(iS4) 



