Some Ways of the Oregon Towhee 



103 



begins with an explosive effect, Ch-e-e-e, and is much less musical. When 

 disturbed, the singer dives head foremost into the brush, and protests in an 

 angry Hey! or G'way! This note is capable of much modulation, being 

 at times quite gay and cheerful, at others harsh and querulous. 



Unlike most members of the sparrow family, the Towhee is unsocial in 

 his habits. He lurks in the dusky shadows of the undergrowth, showing little 



MALE OREGON TOWHEE 



interest in others of his kind, excepting at nesting-time. Even at that time, 

 the male apparently tolerates rather than enjoys the presence of the female. 

 We have watched them for a number of years at our lunch-counter and, so 

 far as we have seen, he never allows her to feed with him, excepting when both 

 are busy carrying grain to their young. At that time, he is probably too much 

 occupied with his share of the domestic duties to pay much attention to her. 

 Though naturally shy and suspicious, the Towhees seem to appreciate 

 the advantages to be derived from the neighborhood of man. They soon 

 learn to feed about the outbuildings and chicken-yards. Our lunch-counter, 

 which is within a few feet of the dwelling, is freely patronized by them. The 

 dwelling, however, is most favorably situated on the edge of the city, with 

 plenty of shrubbery for cover, and no near neighbors. If food is not in evidence 

 on their arrival in the early morning, they remain in the neighborhood, call- 

 ing their insistent H-e-y! until they are fed. We so won the confidence of 

 one pair that we could call them to us at almost any time. In response to our 

 "Come on! come on!," we would hear their eager H-e-y! at first far away, 

 then nearer and nearer, until they appeared, more than ready for their food. 



