270 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



[Purplish white.] 



587. Towhee; Chewink. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. 



Range. North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba. 



The well known Towhee, Ground Robin or Chewink is a bird commonly met 

 with in eastern United States; it frequents thickets, swamps and open woods 

 where they nest generally upon the ground and sometimes in bushes near the 

 ground. The nests are well made of grasses, lined with fine 

 grasses and rootlets, and the eggs, which are laid in May or 

 June, are pinkish white, generally finely sprinkled but 

 sometimes with bold markings of light reddish brown, with 

 great variations. Size .90 x .70. Towhees are noisy birds 

 and at frequent intervals, while they are scratching among 

 the leaves for their food they will stop and utter their familiar 

 "tow-hee" or "che-wink" and then again will mount to the 

 summit of a tree or bush and sing their sweet refrain for a 

 long time. 

 587a. White-eyed Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni. 



Range. Florida and the Altantic coast to South Carolina. 



This variety is like the preceding except that the eyes are white instead of red. 

 There is no difference between their nesting habits and eggs, except that they 

 much more frequently, and in some localities, almost always, nest in trees. 



588. Arctic Towhee. Pipilo maculatus arcticus. 



Range. Great Plains, breeding from northern United States to the Saskat- 

 chewan. 



This species is similar to the eastern Towhee but has the scapulars and 

 coverts tipped with white. They nest abundantly in suitable 

 localities in Montana and North Dakota and more commonly 

 north of our borders. Like the eastern Towhee, they nest 

 on the ground under the protection of overhanging bushes, 

 the nests being made of strips of bark and grasses and lined 

 with fine rootlets. Their three or four eggs, which are laid 

 during May, June or July, are pinkish white, profusely 

 speckled with reddish brown: very similar to those of the 

 [Pinkish white.] eastern Towhee. Size .92 x .70. 

 588a. Spurred Towhee. P. m. megalonyx. 



Range. Breeds from Mexico to British Columbia, west of the Rockies. 

 Similar to the last but with less white on the back. The nesting habits and 

 eggs are like those of the Towhee, but in some localities the nests are most often 

 found in bushes above the ground. 

 588b, Oregon Towhee. P. m. oregonus. 



Range. Pacific coast from California to British Columbia; winters to Mexico. 

 Similar to the last but with still fewer white markings on the back and the 

 chestnut flanks brighter. The nesting habits and eggs of this variety differ in 

 no essential particular from those of the preceding Towhees. 

 588c, San Clemente Towhee. P. m. elements. 



Range. San Clemente Is, and other of the Santa Barbara group. 

 Black of male said to be duller. Probably no difference between the 



others. 



eggs and 



588d. San Diego Towhee. P. m. atratus. 



Range. Coast of southern California and Lower California. Said to be dark- 

 er than megalonyx. 

 588e, Mountain Towhee. P. m. magnirostris. 



Range. Southern Lower California. Similar to arcticus; bill said to be 

 1 arger. 



