FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 407 



Ellyn, not common S. R., Mch. 30-Nov. 18. SE. Minn., common S. R., 

 Apl. 11-Nov. 8. 



Nest, externally of dead leaves and strips of bark, lined with fine grasses, 

 on or near the ground. Eggs, 4-5, white, finely and evenly speckled with 

 shades of rufous, sometimes blotched at the larger end, '96 x '71. Date, 

 Fairfax Co., Va., May 8; Montgomery Co., Pa., May 17; Cambridge, May 

 20; Rosetta, 111., May 2; Wheatland, Ind., May 6. 



There is a vigorousness about the Townee's notes and actions which 

 suggests both a bustling, energetic disposition and a good constitu- 

 tion. He entirely dominates the thicket or bushy undergrowth in 

 which he makes his home. The dead leaves fly before his attack; his 

 white-tipped tail-feathers flash in the gloom of his haunts. He greets 

 all passers with a brisk, inquiring chewink, towhee, and if you pause 

 to reply, with a fluff-fluff of his short, rounded wings he flies to a nearby 

 limb to better inspect you. 



It is only when singing that the Towhee is fully at rest. Then a 

 change comes over him; he is in love, and, mounting a low branch, 

 he gives voice to his passion in song. I have long tried to express the 

 Towhee's song in words, but never succeeded as well as Ernest Thomp- 

 son Seton when he wrote it chuck-burr, pill-a-will-a-will-a. 



587a. P. e. alleni Coues. WHITE-EYED TOWHEE. Similar to the pre- 

 ceding, but with less white on the wings and tail ; only two outer tail-feath- 

 ers tipped with white; iris yellowish or white. L., 8'00; W., 3'20; T., 3'60; 

 B., '52. 



Range. Coast region from about Charleston, S. C., s. through Fla. 

 Nesting date, San Mateo, Fla., Apl. 18. 



This southern race of the Towhee does not associate with the 

 northern bird, which is abundant in the south in the winter. 



The latter selects haunts of much the same nature as those in 

 which it passes the summer, while the southern bird lives in heavy 

 growths of scrub palmetto. The notes of alleni differ from those of 

 erythrophthalmus; its towhee is much higher, and its song, as Dr. Allen 

 pointed out years ago, is shorter. It is also a shyer bird than its northern 

 cousin. 



The ARCTIC TOWHEE (588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus) of the Great 

 Plains and Rocky Mountain region, is of casual occurrence in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin. It bears a general resemblance to P. e. erythrophthalmus, but has 

 more white in the tail and the scapulars and back are marked with white. 



The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (592.1. Oreospiza chlorura) of the western 

 United States is of accidental occurrence in Virginia. 



593. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). CARDINAL. Ad. cf. 

 Throat and regions about the base of the bill black; rest of the plumage 

 bright rosy red, the upperparts tipped with grayish; a conspicuous crest; 

 bill red. Ad. 9. Throat and region about the base of bill grayish black; 

 crest, wings, and tail dull red; upperparts olive brownish ash; underparts 

 buffy ochraceous, lighter on the belly, and sometimes tinged with red on the 

 breast. L., 8'25; W, 375; T., 4'00; B., '64. 



Range. Carolinian and Austroriparian faunas from se. S. D., s. Iowa, 

 n. Ind., n. Ohio, s, Ont. (locally), se, and sw. Pa., and s. Hudson Valley s. 



