154 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



213. (587.) PiPiLO ERYTHROPHTHALMus (Linn.). 109. 



Towhee. 



Synonyms: Fringilla erythrophthalma. 



Towhee Bunting, Chewink, Ground Robin, Marsh Robin, 

 Red-eyed Towhee, Jewee, Joree, Pink-pink, Wink, Wink- 

 wink, Pipilo, Turkey Sparrow. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164. 



Towhee is a resident over most of the state, but in small 

 numbers north. It is likely that the resident birds are males 

 while the females are more migratory. In northern Ohio 

 the winter birds must be looked for in well protected places 

 where food is easily obtainable. During the summer the 

 Towhee may be found in almost any thicket' bordered 

 woods, or in the lower brushy second growth, I have found 

 nests in the higher, more open woods, as well as in the 

 brushy tangles. No one who visits the woods can have 

 failed to make the acquaintance of this strong-voiced bird. 



The food habits do not seem to have been carefully in- 

 vestigated, but from the structure and general habits one 

 might infer that this rather unsparrow-like sparrow feeds 

 more after the fashion of the Robin. Such insects as haunt 

 the ground are eaten in considerable quantities, as well as 

 the weed seeds that may be found in the woods. It is cer- 

 tainly true that Towhee is useful as a weed destroyer. 



The migrating females reach southern Ohio about the 

 middle of April and depart about the middle of November. 

 The migrating males reach Oberlin about the middle of 

 March, and but few remain after the first of November. 



214. (593.) Cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). 110. 



Cardinal. 



Synonyms: Cardinalis virginianus, Fringilla cardinalis, Pity- 

 lus cardinalis, Loxia cardinalis. 

 Cardinal Redbird, Crested Redbird, Top-knot, Redbird. 

 Audubon, Orn. Biog., II, 1834, 366. 



Cardinal is now a common resident over the entire state. 

 Ten years ago it was scarce in Lorain county, and even now 

 is far less numerous at the lake shore than twenty miles 



