714 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
At Lake Burford, in June, 1918, Doctor Wetmore found the birds 
common on the slopes and in the gulches, for cover choosing thickets 
of scrub oak and clumps of wild currant and serviceberry. They were 
among the commonest birds in the Taos country the second week in 
July, 1904, singing from the tops of wild plum bushes along the roads, 
or scratching in the leaves in the mouths of the canyons. In Pueblo 
Canyon at 7,400 feet, on July 15, an old male was seen feeding a grown 
young one that was following him about. As late as August 11, the 
birds were singing in the oak brush on the side of Hondo Valley. 
In the Jicarilla Mountains, early in the fall of 1903, Mr. Gaut 
found them the commonest birds, especially along the gulches and on 
thinly timbered hillsides. A number of specimens were secured in 
traps, baited with rolled oats and bread, set for small mammals about 
fallen logs. 
In the “bosques” of small cottonwoods, willows, and tornillos at 
Mesilla Park, Professor Merrill found the Spurred Tow’hee sparingly 
throughout the year. Only rarely did it leave its secluded retreats for 
the open fields and higher grounds. As he says, whether kicking the 
leaves vigorously about on the ground, emitting its peculiar clie-enk , 
or sitting on the tip top of some tree energetically venting its song, it 
is characteristically a towhee. Its real song is clear, mellow, and 
ringing at once; a higher, emphasized note first, followed by a succession 
of lower notes, ending in a little twist. On July 22, 1913, the Pro¬ 
fessor found a nest in a willow bush about four feet from the ground. 
Lying low beside the bush, he watched the female near by flit noise¬ 
lessly about among the dense growth, while the male scolded volubly, 
attracting to the scene in a short time a pah’ of Cooper Tanagers, a 
California Cuckoo, a male Painted Bunting, a male Black-headed 
Grosbeak, and a pair of Western Yellow-throats. The latter were 
nesting near by. All came within a few feet of the visitor and, except¬ 
ing the Cuckoo, scolded vehemently at his intrusion. The Cuckoo 
quietly took one look and glided out of sight again. The hub-hub 
subsided gradually and the female Towhee went back to her brooding 
again, while the male mounted to a tip top branch and rejoiced in 
song (MS). 
Additional Literature.—Bade, E., Bird-Lore, XXI, 342-346, 1919 
(bird photography).— Miller, O. T., Upon the Tree-Tops, 159-160, 180-184, 
1897.— Pearson, T. G., Educational Leaflet 79, Nat. Assoc. Audubon Soc. 
CANYON TOWHEE: Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus Baird 
Plate 79 
Description. — Male: Length (skins) 7.6-8.8 inches, wing 3.5-3.9, tail 3.8-4.2, 
bill .6-.7. Female: Length (skins) 7.7-8.7 inches, wing 3.4-3.9, tail 3.7-4.3, bill 
.6. Adults: Top of head light reddish brown , rest of upperparts and sides plain dull 
