248 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



(December 3, February 15), and Miss Parkhurst from Talla- 

 dega. Specimens were taken at Auburn, March 4, 1912; 

 Woodville, March 12, 1915 ; Barachias, January 9, 1913 ; and 

 Greenbrier Cove (Marshall County), November 8, 1916, 



General habits. — This large and handsome sparrow is found 

 chiefly along hedges and in thickets, in company with other 

 species of sparrows. It feeds on the ground and is a persistent 

 and vigorous scratcher among the dry leaves and rubbish. 

 Its ordinary note is a faint tsip but when alarmed it utters a 

 sharp chuck. Occasionally snatches of its beautiful song may 

 be heard early in spring. This is described as being among 

 the finest songs of any of the sparrows, loud, clear, and silvery 

 toned. 



Food habits.^Judd, in writing of the food habits of this 

 sparrow, says: 



The vegetable food differs from that of most other sparrows 

 in that it contains less grass seed (only 1 per cent), less grain, 

 and more fruit, ragweed, and polygronum. Half the food con- 

 sists of ragweed and polygonum and more than a quarter of 

 fruit * * ♦. It does no damage to cultivated fruit, though it 

 occasionally eats the buds of peach trees and pear trees.* 



It has been known to eat cedar berries, pokeberries, holly ber- 

 ries, and frost grapes. 



TOWHEE; CHEWINK; JOREE: PipUo erythrophthalmus 

 erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) . 



State records. — The northern race of the towhee, or che- 

 wink, is not known to breed in the State, but in winter may be 

 found generally in all sections. Wintering individuals have 

 been taken at Greensboro, December 29, 1891 ; Auburn, March 

 9, 1912; Orange Beach, January 31, 1912; Battle Wharf, April 

 27, 1892; Teasley Mill (Montgomery County), March 31, 

 1914; Ardell, March 28, 1915; Scottsboro, April 18, 1914; 

 and Sand Mountain (near Carpenter), April 12, 1914. 



General habits. — The towhee lives in bushy pastures, 

 thickets, and brushy borders of woodland. It is a ground- 

 dwelling bird and seeks its food largely in thickets and brush 



•Judd, S. D., Biol. Surv. Bull. 15, p. 88, 1901. 



