THE TOWHEES. 167 



paper before offering it to our little friend to line 

 her nest with. And there it remained all sum- 

 mer, as if towhee were purposely calling attention 

 to soap, instead of to our bird-book. 



The towhees are our especial pets, and we see 

 to it that they have as much food as they want 

 from our table. Though they do not sing, we are 

 familiar with their call-note, or chirp, and think 

 it musical. They have a way of cracking their 

 bills or grinding them together when on the 

 ground, making a rattling sound not unlike that 

 made by a person who is in the habit of grinding 

 his teeth when asleep. 



