364 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
2. Scapulars and wing coverts almost always wholly black. Eastern. 
erythrophthalmus, p. 364. 
2'. Scapulars and wing coverts marked with white. 
3. White markings inconspicuous. oregonus, p. 365. 
3'. White markings conspicuous. 
4. White on outer tail feathers covering more than exposed half 
(beyond coverts).. arcticus, p. 364. 
4'. White on outer tail feathers not covering more than exposed half. 
5. White on outer tail feather covering more than an inch. 
6. Darker; bill and feet relatively smaller. Rocky Mountains 
to Pacific. megalonyx, p. 365. 
6'. Lighter colored; bill and feet relatively larger. San Cle¬ 
mente Island, California .... clementae, p. 366. 
5'. White on outer tail feather reduced to less than an inch. 
atratus, p. 366. 
587. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linn.). Towhee: Chewink. 
Adult male. — Black, except for white belly, brown sides, and white 
patch on primaries, white edgings to tertials, and white 
corners to tail; iris bright red. Adult female : sim¬ 
ilar, but black replaced by brown. Young: similar 
to adults of same sexes, but streaked, and without 
dark chest patch. Male: length (skins) 7.36-8.10, 
wing 3.29-3.72, tail 3.48-3.91, bill .53-58. Female: 
length (skins) 6.80-7.52, wing 3.00-3.30, tail 3.17- 
3.52, bill .51-.58; white on end of outer tail feather 
Fig. 456. 1.30-1.60. 
Remarks. — The absence of white on the scapular and wing coverts dis¬ 
tinguishes the eastern towhee from the western forms. 
Distribution. — Breeds from southern Canada to the Lower Mississippi 
Valley, and from the Atlantic to the western parts of Dakota and Ne¬ 
braska ; winters from the middle districts southward. 
Nest. — On the ground or occasionally in low bushes, bulky, made of 
leaves, twigs, and vines, and lined with grass stems and rootlets. Eggs: 
usually 4, white, pinkish white, or brownish, thickly speckled with reddish 
brown. 
Food. — Insects and seeds. 
588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus (Swains.). Arctic Towhee. 
Adult male. — Head, neck, and chest black; back black, more or less 
mixed with olive gray ; belly white ; 
flanks reddish brown; wings and 
tail with extensive white markings; 
wing bars and white edgings of 
primaries sometimes forming a con¬ 
spicuous patch, and scapulars heav¬ 
ily streaked with white ; white on 
Fig. 457. 
outer tail feather covering more than half exposed portion beyond coverts 
(1.30-1.70). Adult female: Black, replaced by dull olive brown; back 
streaked with black; throat and chest grayish brown ; white markings 
obscured. Young: streaked with black over brownish ground above, buffy 
below ; lighter in female; markings of wings and tail as in adult, more or 
less restricted on wings. Male: length (skins) 6.90-8.34, wing 3.33-3.59, 
tail 3.58-4.10, bill .47-.55. Female: length (skins) 7.19-8.30, wing 3.10- 
3.58, tail 3.40-4.10, bill .48-.55. 
