128 NORTH AMERICAN lilliDS. 



Habits. The Wliite-throated or Cape Towhee of Cape St. Lucas wsis first 

 met with bv Mr. Xaiitus in the southern extremity of the peninsula of 

 Lower California, and descriljed bv Professor IJaird in 1859. Its close re- 

 seml)lance to V. mcso/cinns suggests an ecjiial similarity as to its habits, in 

 regard to which we pos.sess no actual knowledge. ^Ir. Xantus has fur- 

 nislied us with no memoranda as to the manners of the bird. We have only 

 tlie ])rief mention among his notes to the eflect tliat Xo. 4,855 is the nest 

 with four eggs of this Pijdlo, found in a wild Humid as thicket ; and that Xo. 

 5,076 is a nest with eggs of the same, found in a thicket of wild roses in 

 the garden fence. 



Judging from the large number of the nests and eggs of this s^xjcies 

 collected by that gentleman at Cape St. Lucas, it would seem to be very 

 abundant in tliat locality. . 



The eggs of this variety measure .95 of an inch in length and .72 in 

 breadth. They bear a strong resemblance to those of the P. fusciis, but the 

 markings are darker and more distinctly defined, standing out witli a clear 

 and striking effect, in marked contrast with the light background. The 

 ground-color of the egg is a light tint of robin-blue. The markings of dots, 

 dashes, and lines are all about the larger ci ' and are of a deep dark shade 

 of purplisli-brown, so dark as, except in a strong light, to be undistiuguish- 

 able from black. , 



SECTION III. 



Broim ; throat withouf lojlit p'ttck. - 



Pipilo aberti, Uaiud. 



ABEBTS TOWHEE. 



PipiJo nhrrti, Baird, Stansbnry's Rep. Great Salt Lake, Zoology, June, 1852, 325 (New 

 Mexii'oK— Ib. Birds N. Am. 1858, 516, pi. xxx. — Kenxef.ly, V. R. R. X, b, j)!. 

 XXX. — Heekmann", X, e, 1.5. — Cooper, Oiii. Cal. I, 244. Kicncria aberti, Bonap. 

 Coniptes Reudiis, XL, 1855, 356. 



Sp. Char General color of upper i)arts pale brownish yellowish-rod ; beneath brighter, 



_^ and more oihracoous, especially on the under 



coverts, palest on the middle of the belly. 

 Bides of head anterior to eyes, and chin d.ark 

 brown. Bill and Ic'js y<'llo\vish. Lenpfth, 9 

 inches; wintr, o.TO ; tail, 4.85. 



Hab. Base of Rocky Mountains in Xew 

 Mexico. Valley of Gila and C(>lorado. 



This plainly colored bird is perhaps the largest of the North American 

 Finches, and is without any blotches, spots, or variations of importance from 

 one color, except on the chin and sides of the liead. The bill is similar to 

 that of P. erj/throphthaJmvs, but the cutting edge is less concave and more 



