128 NOKTH AMEHICAN JJIliDS. 



Habits. The White-throated or Cape Towhee of Cape St. Lucas was first 

 met with liy Mr. Xantus in the suutheni extremity of tlie i)eiiiiisula of 

 Lower California, and deseril)ed by I'rofessor IJaird in 1859. Its close re- 

 semblance to r. memleucm suggests an equal similarity as to its lialiits, iu 

 regard to wliich we possess no actual knowledge. j\Ir. Xantus has fur- 

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

 the l)rief mention among his notes to tlie efl'ect tiiat No. 4,855 is the nest 

 witli four eggs of this I'ipilo, found in a wild Huimdus thicket ; and tliat No. 

 5,070 is a nest with eggs of tlie same, found in a thicket of wild roses in 

 tlie garden fence. 



Judging from the laige number of the nests and eggs of this si^ecies 

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

 abundant in that locality. 



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

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

 mai'kings are darker and more distinctly defined, standing out with 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, a.id lines are all about the larger end, and are of a deep dark shade 

 of purplish-brown, so dark as, except in a strong light, to be uudistiuguish- 

 able from black. 



SECTION III. 



Broxon ; throat without liijht i«itch. 



Pipilo aberti, r.Aiitn. 



ABEBrS TOWHEE. 



Pipilo ohcrti, Bahid, Stansbnry's Rep. Great Salt Lake, Zoology, .lime, 1852, 325 (New 

 Mexico). -In. Birds N. Am. 1858, 516, pi. xxx. — Kknxkim.v, V. \i. R. X, b, pi. 

 XXX. - Heekmann, X, e, 15.— Cooi'Eii, Orn. Cal. I, 24i. Kiaieria abcrf Bonap. 

 Compti's Rendiis, XL, 1855, 35(5. 



Sp. Char General color of upper i)nris pale brownish yoUowLsh-red ; beneath brighter, 



and more oi-hraceon.s especially on the under 

 rovert.s, i)alest v,;. t'.ie middle of the belly. 

 .Sides of head anteiior to eyes, and chin dark 

 brown. Hill and Icirs yellowish. Lengtli, 9 

 inches; wing, . '1.70 ; tail, 4.8"). 



Hah. Base of Rocky Mountains in Now 

 Mexico. Valley of Gila -iiid Colorado. 



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

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

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

 that of P. eriithrophtlmlmm, but the cutting edge is less concave and more 



