244 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



The summer home of this large and rusty-coated sparrow is in the 

 dreary wilds of British America, from Labrador to Alaska. Their nests, 

 we are reliably informed, have never been obtained in the United States, 

 where these birds occur only during- the spring, fall and winter months. 

 With us this species is found as a common migrant in March, April, 

 October and November. Occasionally only are small parties, or strag- 

 gling birds, met with during mild winters in our southern counties. 

 While sojourning here they may be observed in flocks, of from eight to 

 twenty each, inhabiting humid grounds in bushy places along the road- 

 side, the edges of woods, banks of streams, ponds, etc., where they dili- 

 gently ply themselves in searching among the fallen leaves, dead wood 

 and decaying grasses for seeds and insects. 



GENUS PIPILO VIEILLOT. 

 Pipilo erythrophthalmus (LiNN.). 



Towhee; Bush-bird. 



95). 



Bill large and stout ; eyes red (adult) and yellowish in young ; bill black ; legs 

 brown. 



Male. Belly, lower part of breast and patches on outer three or four pairs of tail 

 feathers, basal portion of primaries and outer webs of same, white ; head, neck, chest, 

 back and rest of tail black; sides, flanks sitid crissum chestnut and brownish. Fe- 

 male same as male but black replaced by brown. Length about 8| inches ; extent 

 about 12 inches. 



Habitat. Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to the plains. 



Common summer resident from April to November ; rare winter resi- 

 dent in the southern counties, where a few individuals are occasionally 

 seen. This somewhat shy and retiring bird inhabits thickets, clearings 

 and woodland undergrowth ; during migrations it also often visits lawns 

 and gardens of towns and villages. When migrating southward these 

 birds go in small detached flocks ; in the spring they come singly or in 

 pairs, the males arriving usually a few days in advance of the females. 

 The rather bulky nest, made up of leaves, fine twigs, grasses, etc., is 

 generally built on the ground in a grass tuft or at the base of thick 

 bushes, and so artfully is it hidden that it can oftentimes only be dis- 

 covered by a most careful search. The four or five white and reddish 

 spotted eggs measure each about .95 by .72 of an inch. The several 

 terms, Towhee, Chewink, Juree and Shewink, by which this bird is 

 known, are applied in imitation of its sharp, quick and rather petulant 

 cry. From its terrestial habits and conspicuous chestnut-colored sides, 

 has arisen the name of Ground Eobin, which, although much less appro- 

 priate than any of those previously mentioned, is, nevertheless, the one 

 by which it is best known in eastern Pennsylvania. The Towhee, an 

 indefatigable seed and insect hunter, spends most of his time on the 



