The Towhee 315 



coat would not be so noticeable to enemies, which, with claw and beak 

 and tooth, are ever afield on the hunt for little birds. She seems to know 

 how well her coloring protects her, and sometimes one may approach to 

 a point where the hand may almost be laid on her before she takes wing. 



Four or five white eggs, finely and evenly spotted with dark red, are 

 laid, usually in May. When one approaches the nest, especially after the 

 eggs have hatched, the parents will immediately appear, and flitting about 

 on the ground or from bush to bush, will anxiously voice their alarm. 



The Towhee has one unfortunate weakness it allows itself to be 

 imposed upon by the Cowbird. The happiness of 

 many a Towhee home is ruined by this dark destroyer 

 of wild-bird life. The Cowbird, which makes no nest 

 of its own, often lays one or more of its eggs in the Towhee's nest, 

 where they are allowed to remain. The young Cowbird grows rapidly, 

 and often crowds some of the young Towhees from the nest. Later, 



TOWHEE FEEDING THE YOUNG COWBIRDS 



when the fledglings leave the nest together, we may sometimes see a 

 mother-Towhee engaged in the care of a young Cowbird-imposter while 

 giving attention to her own young, as may be seen in the picture on this 

 page, which was made from a photograph. 



Some birds feed entirely on fish. In winter, spring or summer, it 

 matters not, they must have fish. Should the ice form over their usual 

 fishing-places they fly away to where the, water is open and fish may be 

 obtained. Other birds eat only insects. Often they are not choice in 

 the kind of insects they have, but almost any kind that has wings and 

 ran tly these air-feeding birds seize and devour. Our Towhee, however, 

 is nearlv omnivorous. Edward Forbush, who has 

 spent a great deal of time finding out just what birds *"' 



eat, tells us that Towhees are fond of ants and of a 

 great variety, of beetles. They also eat hairy caterpillars in great numbers. 

 Those found in the neighborhood of gardens, or of fields under cultiva- 

 tion, frequently flit along the ground among the vegetables or grain in 



