XoKTH American Birds Et 



59 I a, St. Lucas Towhee, P. I. albiijuld. 



Range. — Southern Lower California. 



This variety is like the last but is usually paler below. It is abundant in the 

 reirion about the oape where they nest in thiekets. either in the bushes or on 

 the ground. The egsrs cannot be distinguished from those of the Canon Towhete. 



59 lb. California Towhee. P. I. cris-^llis. 



Range. — Faoitie ooast of California. 



This variety is similar to the Canon Towhee but is browner, both above and 

 below. They are one of the most common of California birds. fre<.\uentiTig 

 scrubby thickets, both on mountain sides and in valleys and canons, from 

 which their harsh scolding voice always greets intruders. They place their 

 nests in bushes at low elevations fr\>inthe gnnind and sometimes on the gniund: 

 they are made of twigs, strips of bark, weeds and coarse grasses, liiieil with tine 

 nxulets. Their three or four eggs are laid in April or Mav; they are light bluish 

 green marked like the others with purplish or bnwnish Vlack. Size .i^ x 7-. 



59 1c. Anthony Towhee, P. /".■<('»/(•« ?(js. 



Range.— Southern California and south through Lower 

 California. 



A very similar bird to the last but slightly smaller and 

 lighter below. The habits and nesting habits of these 

 birds are in every way identical with those of the Califor- 

 nia Towhee and the eggs cannot be distinguished frv^m 

 those of that variety. They are fully as abundant in the 

 southern parts of California as the others ar« in the 

 ;ret>nish blue.: northern. 



>V 



C.rtvnish lilue.l 

 ly mon- sparsely 



592, Abert Towhee. Pipilo abcrti. 



Range. — Arizona and New Mexico north to Colorado 

 and Nevada and east to soiuheastern California. 



This bird is wholly brownish gray both above and below 

 shading into reddish brown on the under tail coverts: the 

 lace is black. They are abundant in thcvalleysof Arizona 

 and New Mexico, but unlike the yMeceding spei'ies, they 

 are generally wild and shy. They nest in chaparral thick- 

 ets along streams, the nests being constructed similarly to 

 those of the California Towhee. and the eggs are not easily 

 distinguishable from those ofthat species, but they are usua 

 specked and the markings niiu'c distinct. Size LOO x .7-5. 



592.1. Green-tailed Towhee. Oi\o<ipi:{i rhionira. 



Range.— Western United States, chietly west of the Rockies, fivm Montana 

 and Washington south to Mexico; wintering in southwestern United States, 



__ This handsome and entirely different plumaged sptvics fivm 



any of the preceding would, from appearance, be better placed 

 in the group with the White-throated Sparrow than its present 

 position. It has a reddish brown crown, the remainder of the 

 upper parts, wings and tail being greenish yellow: the throat 

 is white, bordered abruptly with gray on the breast and sides 

 of head. They are most frequently met with on n.U'ky hill 

 sides which are overgrown with tangled thickets, in which 

 these birds place their nests on the gi\nind. The nests are 

 ■ imilarly to those of the eastern Towhee. and the esrgs, too. are similar, 

 whitish, finely dotted and specked with reddish brown, the markinus 

 most niuuerous around the larger end. Size .80 x.t>i). 



