THE TOWHEES. 



towhees are ground-birds. 

 You seldom see them flying 

 high or sitting on trees. Like 

 the thrashers and thrushes, 

 they must scratch for a living. 

 Their feet are formed on purpose 

 for their business. They are large and strong, the 

 toes spreading. Their beaks are strong and stoutly 

 made, adapted to turning over leaves and other 

 woodland litter, including the straw and chaff in 

 our farm-yards. 



You will meet the spurred towhee in the foot- 

 hills and the arroyos, or in any of the retired 

 country places. They love low undergrowth and 

 shrubbery. If you happen to be out for a Satur- 

 day walk, you will hear a scratching in the brush, 

 or fallen boughs, or behind wild grape-vines, or 

 among the ferns of a canon 

 bank. The scratching is 

 so loud, and plain, and con- 

 tinued, you might mistake 

 it for that of one of your 



159 



REFERENCE TOPICS. 

 Irrigation of orchards. 

 Dry and wet seasons. 



The principle of pro- 

 tective coloration. 



