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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (XXVIII)

Eastern North America; breeds from the lower Mississippi Valley and Georgia northward to Maine, Ontario, and Manitoba; winters from Virginia to Florida.

Washington, common S. R., very common T. V., Apl. 15 to May 15; Sept. to Oct. 15; a few winter. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 21 to Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 25 to Oct. 15.

Nest, externally of dead leaves and strips of bark, lined with fine grasses, on or near the ground. Eggs, four to five, white, finely and evenly speckled with shades of rufous, sometimes blotched at the larger end, 96 x 71 .

There is a vigorousness about the Towhee's notes and actions which suggests both a bustling, energetic disposition and a good constitution. He entirely dominates the thicket or bushy undergrowth in which he makes his home. The dead leaves fly before his attack; his white-tipped tail-feathers flash in the gloom of his haunts. He greets all passers with a brisk, inquiring chewink, towhee, and if you pause to reply, with a fluff-fluff of his short, rounded wings he flies to a nearby limb to better inspect you. It is only when singing that the Towhee is fully at rest. Then a change comes over him; he is in love, and, mounting a low branch. he gives voice to his passion in song. I have long tried to express the Towhee's song in words, but never succeeded as well as Ernest Thompson when he wrote it chuck-burr, pill-a-will-a-will-a. 587a. P. e. alleni Coues. WHITE-EYED TOWHEE; JOREE.-Similar to the preceding, but with less white on the wings and tail; only two outer tailfeathers tipped with white; iris yellowish or white. L., 8.00; W., 3.20 ; T., 3.60; B., 52.

Range.-Florida; northward along the coast to southern South Carolina. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC.

This southern race of the Towhee does not associate with the northern bird, which is abundant in the south in the winter. The latter selects haunts of much the same nature as those in which it passes the summer, while the southern bird lives in heavy growths of scrub palmetto. The notes of alleni differ from those of erythrophthalmus; its towhee is much higher, and its song, as Dr. Allen pointed out years ago, is shorter. It is also a shyer bird than its northern cousin. 593. Cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). CARDINAL. Ad. .-Throat and region about the base of the bill black; rest of the plumage bright rosy red, the upper parts tipped with grayish; a conspicuous crest; bill red. Ad. 9.-Throat and region about the base of bill grayish black; crest, wings, and tail dull red; upper parts olive brownish ash; under parts buffy ochraceous, lighter on the belly, and sometimes tinged with red on the breast. L., 8-25; W., 3-75; T., 400; B., 64.