Vol. XIV 

 i8q7 



J Grinxell, a Ne-v Tozvhee from California. 



295 



Much lighter than $ P. m. megalonyx. Head and neck all around, and 

 upper parts, broccoli brown. Wings and tail darker. Rump gray. 

 These colors are not pure and continuous, but the feathers have darker 

 centres with light edgings. Plumage otherwise as in P. m. megalonyx. 



Habitat. — San Clemente Island, California. 



The male of F. clementce thus closely resembles the female of 

 P. m. megalonyx in the tone of the upper parts, and the female 

 of the insular form is still lighter. From the accompanying 

 table of measurements the difference in size, especially in the 

 proportions of the bill, is evident. 



During my six days' visit on San Clemente Island, from March 

 28 to April 3, the past spring, I did not see more than four others 

 of these Towhees besides the six specimens secured. So that 

 they can not by any means be numerous. However, my obser- 

 vations were confined to the south end of the island, so possibly 

 they are more abundant toward the north end. They were shy, 

 and usually remained closely hidden in the clumps of wild 

 cherry bushes which lined the beds of the ravines. The repro- 

 ductive organs of the single female taken, showed that oviposition 

 had already taken place. 



The notes of the San Clemente Towhee are quite unlike those 

 of the mainland form. The {to7o)-hee was more flimsy, and not 

 so loud. The Catbird call-note which is so characteristic of P. w. 

 megalonyx, appeared to be unknown to the island bird, as I did 

 not once hear it. 



I have seen no Towhees from the other Southern Californian 

 islands, so that more material may relegate Pipilo cle?nentce to 

 subspecific rank, but reasoning from analogy, I think not. 



Measurements in Inches of a Female Pipilo elements from .San 

 Clemente Island, California. 



