310 



FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



>ii :!f 



sovmd. Then perliaps from soine dusky thicket a bird's song! An 

 emotional outburst rising full-' 'led and elear, and [iassing all too 

 quickly to a closing cadence, whicli seems to linger in the silent air. 

 It is the song of the Fox Sparrow with that fuller power and richness 

 of tone which come into it, or seem to, at the sunset hour. It breaks 

 forth as if inspired from pure joy in the awakened season, though with 

 some vague undertone, scarcely of sadness, rather of some lower tone 

 of joy. Eugene P. Bilkxell. 



687. Pipilo eiythirophthalinus {Linn.). Tuwiiee; Ciiewink; 



JouKK. Ail. 6 . — Upper parts black, souietiincs marfrhied with rufous; throat 

 and breast black, belly white, sides rufous; outer wel) of i>riinaries mostly 

 white; tail bhicl., the three outer feathers tipped with wliite; outer web of 

 the outer feather entirely white ; iris red. Ad. 9 . — Upper parts, wings, throat, 

 uud breast brigiit grayisii brown; tail fuscous, the tlnvj outer feathers tipped 

 with wiiite ; sides rufous, nrKklle of the belly wiiite. Young in Jird pltini- 

 atfe have tiie back and under parts streaked witli black. L., 8-35; \V., 3-3-i ; 

 T., 3-ti8 ; B., -65. 



/A/Wf/e.— Eastern North America; breeds from tlic lower Mississippi Val- 

 ley and (Jeorjfia north \va''d to Maine, Ontario, and Manitoba; winters from 

 Virginia to Florida. 



Washington, common S. K., very common T. V., Api. 1.") to May 15; Sept. 

 to (Jet. lo; a few wiiUer. .Sing 8ing, common S. K.. Apl. 21 to Oct. 31. 

 Cambridge, connnou 8. R., Apl. 25 to Oct. IT). 



AV.«^ externnlly of dead leaves and strips of bark, lined witli fine grasses, 

 on or near the ground. h'i'>/s, \\)\\r to five, whi\e, finely and evenly speckled 

 with sluides of rufnus, sometimes blotched at the larger end, ''.Hi x -71. 



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

 suggests both a ' ustling. energetic disposition ami a good constitu- 

 tion, lie entirely dominates the thicket or bushy uiulergrowth in 

 which he makes his home. Tlu' dead leaves lly liefore his attack; his 

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

 nil passers witli a brisk, inquiring cheinnk, foirhei', and if yon pause 

 to reply, with {i flnfT-fhiP' oi his short, rouiuled wings he flies to a near- 

 by limb to better inspect ytni. 



It is only when singing tliat 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 

 Tiiompson when he wrote it chuck-burr, piU-(Mvill-a-tvil'-n. 



687a» P. O. nlleni f\iu<:i. Wuitk-eveo Towtike; .fouEE.— Similar to 

 tlie j>rccediiig, but with less wliiu- on the wings and tail ; only firn outer tail- 

 feathers lijiped with wiiite; iris yellowish or white. 1... SOO; W.. 3"J0; T., 

 3-tiO ; B., ■:>•*. 



Bange. — Florida; northward along the couot to southern South Carolina. 



