TOWHEB, OR CHEWINK. 173 



does not appear to go high up in the mountains. In all these regions it is found on the 

 borders of woodlands near fields and cultivated lands, but always in places where the 

 undergrowth is dense. In the deep interior of extensive forests it does not occur. 

 Swamps it also avoids, though it may be found on their edges. 



Wherever the Towhee may occur in the breeding season, its metallic call-note 

 is one of the leading bird voices in the concert of Nature, and its vivacity and liveliness 

 does much to convert the localities where it has chosen its haunts into attractive and 

 poetical spots. 



It rarely alights on trees. Most of its time is spent on the ground where it runs 

 around with great dexterity. It usually searches for food underneath the bushes, only 

 alighting now and then on an old stump, a half decayed log or an old rail fence ; where 

 it often sits for many minutes uttering its metallic, far sounding notes, or cleaning and 

 arranging its plumage. In close proximity the female answers, or another male not far 

 away, but across the boundary line of its nesting range. In northern Illinois I observed 

 three pairs breeding on a comparatively small tract of woodland not exceeding five 

 acres in area. Their notes, blending together, were in themselves quite a woodland 

 concert. When one called, the others responded. Though the breeding range of each 

 pair was small, its boundary lines were carefully watched and every intruder was at 

 once attacked and driven away if invading the premises of another pair. 



The flight is rather quick, low, and short, and seems to be heavy when the bird 

 has to overfly a naked tract. It usually flies a short distance when flushed, soon 

 alighting again on the ground and disappearing among the bushes and thickets. While 

 flying the tail is spread out in a fan-like manner. Often when walking through its 

 haunts we may hear a rustling noise among the old leaves, and on approaching we 

 see the Chewink busily engaged in scratching for food. This is done in the same manner 

 in which the Fox Sparrow and the White-crowned Sparrow and others operate, i. e. with 

 both feet at the same time. The spot thus laid bare is carefully searched for food. If 

 frightened it runs with great rapidity along on the ground for quite a distance and 

 suddenly reappears on an old stump or on a brush heap, reconnoitering or uttering its 

 common note. It is neither shy nor retiring, but very cautious and prudently avoids 

 danger. When convinced that the observer is harmless, it allows him to approach and 

 may tlien be closely observed. In south-western Missouri several pairs nested near my 

 house among the dense snowberry bushes, wild roses, and stunted black jack oaks. They 

 were very tame, and gathered some of their food from the feeding places I had prepared 

 for the winter residents. 



Wherever the Towhee occurs it is easily detected by its loud and sonorous notes 

 which resound through the woods from early morning until the evening falls. These 

 melodious notes are very loud, varying somewhat during the mating season. We usually 

 hear a simple loud che-wink or tow-hee, or a subdued wink, which is often prolonged 

 into a sweet wink-wink. A louder and more energetic cheo-we-wink and wenk-wenk- 

 wink is also heard, especially when the male challenges a rival near by. The common 

 note of anxiety or alarm, when its haunts are invaded or its nest is approached, sounds 

 like chuck-chuck. The Towhee has also a low, prolonged song, but it is rarely heard 

 by the common rambler and is scarcely audible among the voices of the woodland choir. 



