272 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



59 I a. St. Lucas Towhee. P. f. albigula. 



Range. Southern Lower California. 



This variety is like the last but is usually paler below. It is abundant in the 

 region about the cape where they nest in thickets, either in the bushes or on 

 the ground. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the Canon Towhee. 



59 I b. California Towhee. P. f. crissllis. 



Range. Pacific coast of California. 



This variety is similar to the Canon Towhee but is browner, both above and 

 below. They are one of the most common of California birds, frequenting 

 scrubby thickets, both on mountain sides and in valleys and canons, from 

 which their harsh scolding voice always greets intruders. They place their 

 nests in bushes at low elevations from the ground and sometimes on the ground; 

 they are made of twigs, strips of bark, weeds and coarse grasses, lined with fine 

 rootlets. Their three or four eggs are laid in April or May; they are light bluish 

 green marked like the others with purplish or brownish black. Size .95 x 72. 



59 I c. Anthony Towhee, P. f. seniculas. 



^^^^ Range. Southern California and south through Lower 



California. 



A very similar bird to the last but slightly smaller and 

 lighter below. The habits and nesting habits of these 

 birds are in every way identical with those of the Califor-* 

 nia Towhee and the eggs cannot be distinguished from 

 those of that variety. They are fully as abundant in the 



[Greenish blue.l 



southern parts of California as the others are in the 

 northern. 



[Greenish blue.] 



592, Abert Towhee. Pipilo aberti. 



Range. Arizona and New Mexico north to Colorado 

 and Nevada and east to southeastern California. 



This bird is wholly brownish gray both above and below 

 shading into reddish brown on the under tail coverts; the 

 face is black. They are abundant in the valleys of Arizona 

 and New Mexico, but unlike the preceding species, they 

 are generally wild and shy. They nest in chaparral thick- 

 ets along streams, the nests being constructed similarly to 

 those of the California Towhee, and the eggs are not easily 

 distinguishable from those of that species, but they are usually more sparsely 

 specked and the markings more distinct. Size 1.00 x .75. 



592,1. Green-tailed Towhee. Oreospiza chlorura. 



Range. Western United States, chiefly west of the Rockies, from Montana 

 and Washington south to Mexico; wintering in southwestern United States. 



This handsome and entirely different plumaged species from 

 any of the preceding would, from appearance, be better placed 

 in the group with the White-throated Sparrow than its present 

 position. It has a reddish brown crown, the remainder of the 

 upper parts, wings and tail being greenish yellow; the throat 

 is white, bordered abruptly with gray on the breast and sides 

 of head. They are most frequently met with on rocky hill 

 sides which are overgrown with tangled thickets, in which 

 these birds place their nests on the ground. The nests are 

 guilt similarly to those of the eastern Towhee, and the eggs, too, are similar, 

 being whitish, finely dotted and specked with reddish brown, the markings 

 being most numerous around the larger end. Size .85 x.65. 



[Whitish.] 



