The Brown Towhees 



poses himself in such yokel fashion, according to their 

 standards, that the crowd is jeering at him before he has 

 re-joined it in the shelter of the bush. Save for the afflic- 

 tions of the noble passion, the Towhees get along well 

 enough with their own kind. There is likely to be 

 amiable twittering — good-natured banter, it would seem 

 — whenever they meet; and nothing could be more sug- 

 gestive of homely joys than the sight of a wedded pair 

 taking "the kids" out for an airing of a Sunday after- 

 noon. The excursion, perhaps, is conducted through the 

 garden. Bugs and worms are not overlooked. Fallen 

 seeds are seized and bolted outright, or else shelled 

 deftly with that curious nibbling motion which always 

 looks babyish or affected in these large-beaked 

 birds. Fresh herbage is sampled freely, too freely, 

 perhaps, as we shall learn presently. Whatever the 

 parents do the children imitate in grateful obedience; 

 but there are baby hours whiled in the leafy shade, 

 when they are more prone to snatch up what father 

 or mother has uncovered by energetic backward 

 kicks, than to rustle (quite literally) for themselves. 



The predilection of these birds for young plant growth 

 is very marked ; and there is no gainsaying the mischief they 

 do in early spring to tender peas and lettuce. Mr. Tyler has 

 remarked, 1 "The Towhees are big good-natured fellows, in no 

 way injurious to man's interests." I should like to see him 

 argue this point (without weapons, of course) with a certain 

 good neighbor of mine who raises "garden sass" for the mar- 

 ket. Having had occasion to replant early peas myself, I have 

 learned to cover the tender shoots with brush or mosquito 

 netting for the first two weeks of their growth. The Towhee 

 also comes in strong on the fruit harvest. Plums, apricots, 

 early peaches, and grapes — these he will munch as innocently 

 as an urchin. And why not? He was here first; and if you insist upon 

 using his ground for growing fruit instead of bugs and weed-seed, you 

 must expect to pay ground rent. Cheer up ! 



The presence and movements of the Brown Towhee are published 

 from time to time by a metallic chip, which is quite the most familiar of 

 vocal sounds. This chip is the ordinary keep-in-touch note, and it must 

 also do duty for warning, for challenge, for exhortation, and other pur- 

 poses which, in a sphere of action somewhat removed, necessitates the use 



1 Pacific Coast Avifauna, No. 9, p. 86. 



405 



Taken at Los Colibris 

 Photo by the Author 



HONEST HANS 



