PIPILO LEUCOPIS. 



497 



IIAIUT.S. 

 When one is wanderinp: iilonii' tlic hummock edges oi' Florida, he will IVequently be 

 greeted by a sudden, explosive chirp which is given so loudly as to be almost startling 

 The author of this sound is concealed by the dense thicket and the most that can be seen 

 of it is the quick flirt of a white-tipped tail as the bird beats a hasty retreat deeper into the 

 bushes. If the spectator remain quiet ibr a few moments, however, he will see a pair of 

 l)right red eyes -watching him from among the foliage and will be saluted by an inquiring 

 tr/w-hce, for the Red-eyed hunting is exceedingly inquisitive, but upon }>ei-ceiving the 

 slightest motion it is off, loudly and petulantly repeating its tow-hee, tow-hee. This is the 

 only note I ever heard from this species in Florida, neither did I ever find them elsewhere 

 than along the margins of the thick woods, but when in the north their habits are quite 

 different. 



The rocky sides of the Alleghany mountains are covered with small trees while the 

 intervals between them are occupied by low bushes. This shru])bery forms a f;xvorite resort 

 ■for the Towhees, and the males may be seen any morning in May perched on the topmost 

 boughs of the highest trees, busily engaged in pouring forth their somewhat disconnected 

 song. This lay is not fine but yet enlivening for it rings out loud and clear and, as it echoes 

 along the steep sides of the valleys, produces an effect which is quite pleasing. In Massa- 

 chusetts the Towhees are found in open fields grown up to bushes, or along fence rows. 

 Here they are quite familiar, following the pedestrian about when he invades their domains, 

 occasionally uttering their peculiar cry. 



They breed in the locidites which I have described, about the middle of May, almost 

 always building on the ground but on one occasion I found the nest on a small limb a1x)ul 

 afoot above the surface. The females, when setting, are quite tame and I have frccpiently 

 nearly placed my hand on them before they would fly. 



In August the newly fledged young are found in pastures feeding upon lierrios, in com- 

 pany with their parents. In this stage of plumage the streaked breast and whitish eyes 

 give them a singular appearance quite at variance from the ailults. They do not keep this 

 dress long, however, but gradually assume one more like that of the mature birds. The 

 Towhees spend the greater portion of their time on the ground, fre(iuently scratching 

 among the fallen leaves after insects. This habit is especially noticeable in autumn when 

 the birds gather in straggling flocks on their southward migration. 



PIPILO LEUCOPIS. 

 White-eyed Towhcc. 



DESCP.II'TION. 

 I'liitc IV'. Adult iiiaU' ami fbmiilo in spring. 

 Sr. Cn. Form, robust. Size, meriium. Tonirue, not very flosliy, jiroviilnl witli n bifid tuft of coarse, toniiinal, liaiv- 

 like fibers. Sternum, similar to that oi' tryl/iniplithfi/mux, but not as stout. The leathei-s of the head are elongated. 



Color. Adult malt . Upper portion of body, ineludins wings and tail, throat, sidcj. of head and ncok, and upper 

 breast, blark. Edgeofwing, outer webs of basal portion of all the jiriniaries, and elongated spot on the outer four, foi-min^ 

 an oblique bar, spots (n outer webs of secondaries, narrow line on outer webs of outer tail feathei-s, spots on terminal por- 

 tion of threj pairs, not, however, extending to the shaft, middle of breast, and alidomen, white. Sides and Hanks, chestnut 



BIIIDS OF FLORIDA. lo 



