OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 345 



tera, and the berries of Rubus villoms, and Ame- 

 lanchier canadensis. 



The eggs are oblong-oval, and thickly marked 

 with asy-brown blotches upon a white ground- 

 color, and lavender tints which almost completely 

 conceal the ground. The eggs have an average 

 measurement of 1.05 by .79 of an inch. 



Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Vieill. 



The Towhee Bunting or Chewink is quite 

 abundant in Eastern Pennsylvania in the spring, 

 where it arrives about the 15 th of April. At this 

 time it is quite gregarious. Still later, the flocks 

 dissolve, and for a while anterior to mating, each 

 bird leads a solitary existence; its sole object now 

 seems to be the acquirement of food, for which 

 a life of solitude eminently qualifies it with a better 

 show of success. This species chiefly delights in 

 waste grounds and thick, damp forests; it does 

 not hesitate to visit less retired localities, even 

 venturing into bushes along frequented roads for 

 the procurement of nourishment. It is far from 

 being shy and timid, and will permit near ap- 

 proaches both while gleaning and nesting, with the 

 slightest manifestation of alarm. 



Few species are more eminently terrestrial than 

 the subject of this sketch. It only occasionally 

 takes to bushes and small trees, never or seldom 

 frequenting the tall tree-tops in its search after 

 food. Like its family relations, this Pipilo is dis- 

 tinctly rasorial, reminding us of the Grallatores. 



