292 BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



with those of his anxious mate. On my way across the 

 plains, some two weeks later, I discovered that the lark 

 buntings do not dwell only in well-watered meadows, 

 but also in the most arid localities. Still, I am 

 inclined to think they do not build their nests far 

 from refreshing streams. When the breeding season is 

 over, they range far and wide over the plains in search 

 of insects that are to their taste. From the car 

 window many of them were observed all along the 

 way to a distance of over sixty miles east of Denver. 

 At that time the males, females, and young were mov- 

 ing from place to place, mostly in scattering flocks, the 

 breeding season being past. A problem that puzzled 

 me a little was where they obtain water for drinking 

 and bathing purposes, but no doubt such blithe and 

 active birds are able to "look out for number one." 



The second member of our lyrical* quartette is the 

 elegant green-tailed towhee, known scientifically as 

 Pipilo chlorurus. The pretty green-tails are quite wary 

 about divulging their domestic secrets, and for a time 

 I was almost in despair of finding even one of their 

 nests. In vain I explored with exhausting toil many a 

 steep mountain side, examining every bush and beating 

 every copse within a radius of many rods. 



My purpose was to flush the female from her nest, 

 a plan that succeeds with many birds; but in this 

 instance I was disappointed. It is possible that, when 



