128 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Habits. The White-throated or Cape Towhee of Cape St. Lucas was first 

 met with by Mr. Xantus iii tlie southern extremity of the peninsula of 

 Lower California, and described by Professor Baird in 1859. Its close re- 

 semblance to P. Tnesoleucus suggests an equal similarity as to its habits, iu 

 regard to which we possess no actual knowledge. Mr. Xantus has fur- 

 nished us with no memoranda as to the manners of the bird. We have only 

 the brief mention among his notes to the effect that No. 4,855 is the nest 

 with four eggs of this Fipilo, found in a wild Humulus thicket ; and that No. 

 5,076 is a nest with eggs of the same, found in a thicket of wild roses in 

 the garden fence. 



Judging from the large number of the nests and eggs of this species 

 collected by that gentleman at Cajje St. Lucas, it would seem to be very 

 abundant in that locality. 



The eggs of this variety measure .95 of an inch in length and .72 in 

 breadth. They bear a strong resemblance to those of the P. fuscus, but the 

 markings are darker and more distinctly defined, standing out with a clear 

 and striking effect, in marked contrast with the light background. The 

 ground-color of the egg is a light tint of robin-blue. The markings of dots, 

 dashes, and lines are all about the larger end, and are of a deep dark shade 

 of purplish-brown, so dark as, except in a strong light, to be undistinguish- 

 able from black. 



SECTION III. 



Brown ; throat without light patch. 



Pipilo aberti, Baird. 



ABEKT'S TOWHEE. 



Pipilo aberti, Baird, Stansbury's Rep. Great Salt Lake, Zoology, June, 1852, 325 (New- 

 Mexico). — Ib. Birds N. Am. 1858, 516, pi. xxx. — Kennerly, P. R. R. X, b, pi. 

 XXX. — Heermann, X, c, 15. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 244. Kiencria aberti, Bonap. 

 Comptes Rendus, XL, 1855, 356. 



Sp. Char. General color of upper parts pale brownish yellowish-red ; beneath brighter, 



and more ochraceous, especially on the under 

 coverts, palest on the middle of the belly. 

 Sides of head anterior to eyes, and chin dark 

 brown. Bill and legs yellowish. Length, 9 

 inches; wing, 3.70 ; tail, 4.85. 



Hab. Base of Rocky Mountains in New 

 Mexico. Valley of Gila and Colorado. 



This plainly colored bird is perhaps the largest of the North American 

 Finches, and is without any blotches, spots, or variations of importance from 

 one color, except on the chin and sides of the head. The bill is similar to 

 that of P. crythrophthalmus, but the cutting edge is less concave and more 



