367 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
same note, and in flight the robin-like screep'-eep-eep of his group. 
In the mountains, the canyon towhees are found among rocks and 
along ledges of canyons. At Mineral Park, Arizona, Mr. Bailey 
found them abundant in February. They were noisy and so tame 
that they would come into camp to feed on scattered crumbs and 
grain. In New Mexico outside of the mountains, Mr. Batchelder 
found them about Mexican villages and irrigated fields. 
691b. P. f. crissalis ( Vig .). California Towhee. 
Adults. — Entire upper parts plain dull grayish brown , slightly deeper on 
head; throat light rufous, usually marked with dusky ; 
middle of belly whitish or dull huffy, sides grayish 
brown; under tail coverts reddish brown. Young: like 
adults, hut browner, wing bars and edgings pale brown¬ 
ish ; under parts dull huffy, deepening to tawny on 
throat and belly, and grayish brown along sides; ante¬ 
rior lower parts streaked. Male: length (skins) 8.35- 
9.50, wing 3.75-4.08, tail 4.22-4.55, bill .S6-.65. Female: Fi S- «<>• 
length (skins) 8.24-8.60, wing 3.57-3.88, tail 4.14-4.38, bill .56-.63. 
Remarks. — Crissalis is like mesoleucus , but larger and darker. 
Distribution. — California, west of Sierra Nevada, north to Mendocino 
and Shasta counties, south to Santa Barbara and Kern counties, and north¬ 
ern part of San Bernardino County. 
Nest. — In bushes or trees, usually 2 to 6 feet from the ground, made of 
inner bark, twigs, and weed stems, lined with plant stems and sometimes 
horsehair and wool. Eggs: 4 or 5, pale blue, spotted with purplish brown. 
The California members of the fuscus group have a thin chip 
which gives them the name of brown chippies, the robin-like call of 
mesoleucus, and a song which, though a trifle squeaky for such a 
large bird when heard too close at hand, has a quiet, contented qual¬ 
ity that matches the bird’s disposition and is very pleasing. When 
given in concert in the canyons at dusk the song is said to be 
most effective. Though shy and wary about his nesting grounds, 
when his family cares are over the brown chippie comes to the door- 
yard and stays there more familiarly than the Brewer blackbird. 
Although he also makes himself at home on city lawns and in parks, 
he is especially fond of barnyards and hay lofts, where he can 
scratch in the straw and pick up seeds to his heart’s content. When 
he flies his short wings and long tail give him a bobbing, awkward 
motion, but when sitting about the dooryard his plump, fluffy figure 
affords him a most comfortable domestic look. 
691c. P. f. senicula Anthony. San Fernando Towhee: Anthony 
Towhee. 
Like crissalis , but smaller, upper parts darker, and lower parts grayer. 
Male: length (skins) 8.05-8.12, wing 3.48-3.97, tail 3.95-4.42, bill .56-.G2. 
Female: Wing 3.38-3.56, tail 3.93-4.02, bill .57-.60. 
Distribution. — From southern California south to Lower California. 
