i64 THE LAZULI BUNTIN 



'V 



of tlic underworld, not, of course, in the Mej)liisto])liclian sense. Init as the 

 uiuloul)ted aristocrat among those humble folk who skulk under dark ferns, 

 thread marvelous mazes of interlacing sticks and stalks, ex()lore cavernous 

 recesses of moss-covered roots, and understand the foundations of tilings 

 generally. 



'Pile h.indsonie bird is a link- iinicitient of tlie company of his own kind, 

 his faithful sixiuse always excepted; hut he (|uite appreciates the mild defer- 

 ence of Rusty Song Sparrows, the hustling sociability of Western Winter 

 Wrens, or even the intermittent homage of Seattle Wrens. In winter the 

 Fox Sparrows attach themselves to tliis humble itinerant court, but ther arc 

 a dozen tiines more bashful than their chief even. 



Only at mating time docs Towliee throw caution to the winds. Then 

 he mounts a sapling and drones away by tlic hour. The damjis of ten thou- 

 sand winters have reduced his song to a jiitiful wheeze, but he lioUls forth 

 as bravely as any of his kin. whccccc 'ivhccccc. and again, whccccc. In winter 

 the birds employ a peculiar hissing sound, psxst or hcczt. not I believe, as a 

 warning — rather as a kcei)-in-toucli call. It was rather heartening tlio to 

 hear the full song of Towhce on the JQth of December at I'laine. Comjiari- 

 sons were unnecessary, and the homely trill stood out like a beiie<liction 

 against the dripjiing silence. 



In feeding. Towhees resort chieHy to the ground. They are not careful 

 to observe quiet, and one may follow their movements by the attendant rus- 

 tling of leaves. Scratching for food is a favorite emiiloynient. and this they 

 pursue not by the methodical clutch and scrajie of the old hen, but by a suc- 

 cession of s|)irited backward kicks executed by both feet at once, and assisted 

 by the wings. By this method, not only fallen seeds are laid bare but lurking 

 insects of manv sorts, which the bird swifllv devours. 



No. 67. 

 L.AZn.I BIXTIXG. 



.•\. ( •. r. No. 599. Passerina amcfna 1 S,-i\ ). 



Synonyms. — L.xzri.i Fi.scii. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and neck all around ccriiloaii liluc: tlii< 

 color carried over upporjiart'^ hut jnirc only on runi]). elsewhere a]>penrinp a< 

 skirting <>f feathers; middle coverts hmailly and greater coverts narrowly tipped 

 with wiiite: wings and tail otherwise black; soim- skirting of ochraceoti-i on liack. 

 scapulars and tertials ; lores l)lack ; chest ochraceoiis sharjily defined from hhio 

 .ibove but slia<liiij; Kradualiy into white of reinainiiiK underparts; sides and flanks 

 with ontcroppiiiK iilui-^h dusky. I'ill black alnive. pale liluish bilow : feet brownish 

 dusky; iris brown. Adult fciiiah-: .\lxivc grayish hmwii. the color of male 



