162 THE SPURRED TOWHEE. 
fluff, fluff of the short wings, and a jerk and quick spreading of the long, 
rounded tail, as if he hoped that the flash of white at its end would startle 
the intruder away.” 
Taken in Oregon. Photo by A. W. Anthony. 
NEST AND EGGS OF THE SPURRED TOWHEE. 
For a nest the 
Spurred ‘Towhee 
scratches a hollow 
at the base of a 
bush or clump in 
some dry situa- 
tion, and lines 
this ca'refully, 
first with leaves, 
bark - strips and 
plant stems, then 
with fine grasses 
or rootlets. The 
eggs, commonly 
four in number, 
are deposited the 
last week in April 
or first in. May, 
and the female 
clings to her treas- 
ures until the 
crushing footstep 
is very imminent. 
Once flushed, how- 
ever, she keeps to 
the background, 
scolding intermit- 
tently, ‘and she 
will not return 
until long after 
the excitement has 
died down. 
Two broods are raised each season, and the first one, at least, must early 
learn to shift for itself. The young birds are obscure, dun-colored creatures, 
quite unlike their parents in appearance, and by July they infest the buck- 
brush of the more open mountain sides in such numbers and apparent variety 
as to start a dozen false hopes in the ornithologist’s breast each day. 
