



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 325 



eggs of the other species. We have already stated a means of dis- 

 tinguishing the eggs of this species from those of the Cowbird page 272. 

 Ten eggs measure .89 x .66, .89 x .68, .89 x .68, .90 x .71, .88 x .75, .90 x 

 .73, .94 x .75, .96 x .74, .93 x .72, .96 x .73 ; average .95 x .72. 



5870. Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni COUES [2370.] 



White-eyed Towhee. 



Hab. Florida, Eastern Georgia and Southern South Carolina. 



The Florida or White- eyed Towhee has been found breeding as 

 far north as Beaufort county, South Carolina, by Mr. Walter Hoxie in 

 the months of May and June. Mr. G. Noble, of Savannah, Georgia, 

 informs me that he found the White-eye in that region building chief- 

 ly in young pines from three to ten feet above the ground, and that the 

 nest resembles that of the Yellow-breasted Chat. Mr. Hoxie found it 

 nesting in pine trees ranging in height from four to twenty feet above 

 the ground. The nests were made of coarse weeds, pine needles and 

 grass, lined with finer grasses. The complement of eggs varies from 

 two to four, and considerable variation exists in their size and mark- 

 ings. Mr. Norris has several sets of eggs taken near Frogmore, 

 South Carolina. Their ground color is white, thickly speckled with 

 pinkish-vinaceous and pearl-gray. A set of three has one egg which 

 is covered all over with faint yellow specks, giving to the specimen a 

 light yellow-brown appearance; the other two are bluish-white un- 

 marked; sizes, .9OX.69, .85X.7O, .82X.68. Another set of two are of 

 the same light bluish-white tint, unmarked, and offers the following 

 sizes: .85X.67, .87X.62. The sizes of a set of three are, i.oox.74, 

 .95X.72, .87X.70. 



588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus (SWAINS.) [238.] 



Arctic Towhee. 



Hab. Plains of the Platte, Upper Missouri, Yellowstone and the Saskatchewan Rivers; west to the 

 base of the Rocky Mountains; south in winter to Kansas, Colorado and Texas. 



The Northern or Arctic Towhee Bunting has been found in the 

 valley of the Saskatchewan, where it breeds, and on the high central 

 plains of the Upper Missouri and the Yellowstone and Platte Rivers. 

 An abundant species in the valley of the Great Slave Lake. Dr. Mer- 

 rill found it in all parts of Montana wherever a stream with bordering 

 underbrush afforded shelter. There is great diversity in the time of 

 laying, or rather in the contents of nests found on about the same dates 

 from the middle of May until late in July, which was attributed more 

 to the great number of nests that must be destroyed by snakes, birds 

 and small mammals, and to the attempt of the parents to raise another 

 brood, than to any other cause. The nests are placed on the ground 

 under some bush, favorite places being growths of cherry bushes often 



