MELOSPIZA MELODIA. 
115 
they occur. These birds are exceedingly inquisitive and will follow one for a long distance 
through the bushes. The White-eyed Towhees are also sympathetic for they will gather 
in large numbers around a wounded comrade when they hear its cries, evincing the utmost 
compassion for its misfortune. Although they possess similar habits to those of the more 
northern, species yet they are not as restless, neither is the ordinary call given as loudly 
or with as much energy. This note also has a different sound, like the syllables jo-ree with 
a very decided accent on the latter, the first being frequently given so quickly and so low 
that it is not very noticeable. I have often heard the two species together and could al¬ 
ways distinguish them by this utterance alone. 
Throughout the winter the White-eyed Towhees do not sing, but by the first of March 
the males may be seen on the highest boughs of the small live oaks, pouring forth their 
song which is lower and sweeter than that of the Red-eye. This outburst of song is the 
prelude to the breeding season, and soon the birds are busily engaged in constructing their 
domiciles. Although I have searched long and carefully for the nest yet, on account of 
the thickness of the bushes among which they build, never found one. It is quite proba¬ 
ble that the females sit closely, as they are very tame, which would also render the nests 
difficult to find. The first week in April, however, I was fortunate enough to capture a 
newly fledged young in the bushes, near our camp on Indian River. There were quite a 
number of the little Jo-rees, as the boys call them, about and their parents were extreme¬ 
ly annoyed at my presence, scolding me vehemently while they hopped briskly about, jerk¬ 
ing their tails over their backs, thus evincing as much anger as is possible for a bird to 
exhibit. The White-eyed Towhees are often captured and caged by boys who offer them 
for sale in the cities, but I do not think they sing when in confinement or thrive well. 
They are oftener taken in the winter than at other seasons for they are constantly resident 
wherever they occur. 
GENUS XIV. MELOSPIZA. THE SONG SPARROWS 
Gen. Ch. Bill, thick, somewhat swollen at base. Upper mandible, but little curved. Wings, a little shorter than the 
tail which is slightly rounded. . Sternum, broad, with the coracoids not quite equal in length to the top of the keel which is 
much shorter than one half the length of the coracoids. Size, medium. 
The species are all dull in color and are streaked above. They are lighter below where they are usually spotted or 
finely streaked. 
MELOSPIZA MELODIA. 
Song Sparrow. 
Melospiza melodia Baird, Birds N. A.; 1858, 477. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sr. Ch. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Tongue, not very fleshy, provided with a terminal tuft of hair-like 
fibers. Sternum, as given above. The feathers of the head are elongated. 
Color. Adult. Upper portion of body, including wings and tail, reddish-brown, with the centers of the feathers of 
top of head and middle of back, tips of secondaries, and inner webs of wings and tail, dark-brown. Edges of the feathers 
of sides of neck and back, ashy. Median and supercilary lines, ear coverts, lores, and tips of wing coverts, forming indis¬ 
tinct bars, also ashy. Under parts, white, with maxillary lines and triangular spots on the sides, flanks, under tail coverts, 
and breast, where they usually cluster, dark-brown, margined with reddish-brown. Bill, black, yellow at base of lower 
mandible. Feet, brown. 
Young. Similar to the above, but with the ashy markings overwashed with dusky. The other markings above are 
more suflused and there is a tinge of yellowish-rufous on the entire under parts, excepting the abdomen. 
