Page 357 585a. Shumagin Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca unalaschensis. Fox Sparrow. Range.--Shumagin Islands and the Alaska coast to Cook Inlet. Similar to the last but paler, being one of the several recent unsatisfactory subdivisions of this genus. The nesting habits and eggs of all the varieties are like those of the common eastern form. 585b. Thick-billed Sparrow. Passerella iliaca megarhyncha. Range.--Mountains of eastern California and western Nevada; locally confined. Entire upper parts and breast spots gray; wings and tail brown. It nests in the heaviest underbrush of the mountain sides, building on or close to the ground. 585c. Slate-colored Sparrow. Passerella iliaca schistacea. Range.--Rocky Mountain region, breeding from Colorado to British Columbia. This variety which is similar to, but smaller than the last, nests in thickets along the mountain streams. The eggs are like those of iliaca, but average smaller. 585d. Stephen's Sparrow. Passerella iliaca stephensi. Range.--Breeds in the San Bernadino and San Jacinto Mts. in southern California. Like the Thick-billed Sparrow, but bill still larger and bird slightly so. 585e. Sooty Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca fuliginosa. Range.--Coast of Washington and British Columbia; south to California in winter. 585f. Kadiak Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca insularis. Range.--Breeding on Kadiak Island; winters south to California. Like the last but browner above and below. 585g. Townsend's Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca townsendi. Range.--Southern coast of Alaska; winters south to California. Like the last but more rufous above. Upperparts and tail uniform brownish umber, below heavily spotted. White. 586. Texas Sparrow. Arremonops rufivirgatus. Range.--Eastern Mexico and southern Texas. This odd species has a brownish crown, olive greenish upperparts, wings and tail, and grayish white underparts. They are common resident birds along the Lower Rio Grande, being found in tangled thickets, where they nest at low elevations, making their quite bulky nests of coarse weeds and grass and sometimes twigs, lined with finer grass and hair; they are often partially domed with an entrance on the side. Their eggs are plain white, without markings; often several broods are raised in a season and eggs may be found from May until August.





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 Towhee or Chewink. 587. Towhee. Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus. Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba. The well known Towhee, Ground Robin or Chewink is a bird commonly met with in eastern United States; it frequents thickets, swamps and open woods where they nest generally upon the ground and sometimes in bushes near the ground. Purplish white. The nests are well made of grasses, lined with fine grasses and rootlets, and the eggs, which are laid in May or June, are pinkish white, generally finely sprinkled but sometimes with bold markings of light reddish brown, with great variations. Size .90 × .70. Towhees are noisy birds and at frequent intervals, while they are scratching among the leaves for their food they will stop and utter their familiar "tow-hee" or "che-wink" and then again will mount to the summit of a tree or bush and sing their sweet refrain for a long time. 587a. White-eyed Towhee. Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni. Range.--Florida and the Atlantic coast to South Carolina. This variety is like the preceding except that the eyes are white instead of red. There is no difference between their nesting habits and eggs, except that they much more frequently, and in some localities, almost always, nest in trees. 588. Arctic Towhee. Pipilo maculatus arcticus. Range.--Great Plains, breeding from northern United States to the Saskatchewan. Pinkish white. This species is similar to the eastern Towhee but has the scapulars and coverts tipped with white. They nest abundantly in suitable localities in Montana and North Dakota and more commonly north of our borders. Like the eastern Towhee, they nest on the ground under the protection of overhanging bushes, the nests being made of strips of bark and grasses and lined with fine rootlets. Their three or four eggs, which are laid during May, June or July, are pinkish white, profusely speckled with reddish brown; very similar to those of the eastern Towhee. Size .92 × .70. 588a. Spurred Towhee. Pipilo maculatus montanus. Range.--Breeds from Mexico to British Columbia, west of the Rockies. Similar to the last but with less white on the back. The nesting habits and eggs are like those of the Towhee, but in some localities the nests are most often found in bushes above the ground.
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NEST AND EGGS OF TOWHEE.
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 588b--591. 588b. Oregon Towhee. Pipilo maculatus oregonus. Range.--Pacific coast from California to British Columbia; winters to Mexico. Similar to the last but with still fewer white markings on the back and the chestnut flanks brighter. The nesting habits and eggs of this variety differ in no essential particular from those of the preceding Towhees. 588c. San Clemente Towhee. Pipilo maculatus clementæ. Range.--San Clemente Is. and other of the Santa Barbara group. Black of male said to be duller. Probably no difference between the eggs and others. 588d. San Diego Towhee. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx. Range.--Coast of southern California and Lower California. Said to be darker than megalonyx. 588e. Large-billed Towhee. Pipilo maculatus magnirostris. Range.--Southern Lower California. Similar to arcticus; bill said to be larger. 589. Guadalupe Towhee. Pipilo consobrinus. Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California. Similar to oregonus but smaller and with a relatively shorter tail. The nesting habits and eggs of this species will not likely be found to differ essentially from those of others of the genus. 591. Canon Towhee. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. Greenish blue. Range.--Mexico and north to Arizona and New Mexico and casually farther to Colorado. A common species in the valleys and on the side hills, nesting in bushes near the ground, and sometimes on the ground; the nests are made of grasses, weeds and twigs lined with rootlets, and the three or four eggs are greenish blue sparingly spotted or scrawled with blackish brown, the markings being similar to those on many Red-winged Blackbirds' eggs. Size 1.00 × .70. 591a. San Lucas Towhee. Pipilo fuscus albigula. Range.--Southern Lower California. This variety is like the last but is usually paler below. It is abundant in the region about the cape where they nest in thickets, either in the bushes or on the ground. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the Canon Towhee. 591b. California Towhee. Pipilo crissalis crissalis. Range.--Pacific coast of California. This variety is similar to the Canon Towhee but is browner, both above and below. They are one of the most common of California birds, frequenting scrubby thickets, both on mountain sides and in valleys and canons, from which their harsh scolding voice always greets intruders.
Page 361 591.1--592--592.1. They place their nests in bushes at low elevations from the ground and sometimes on the ground; they are made of twigs, strips of bark, weeds and coarse grasses, lined with fine rootlets. Their three or four eggs are laid in April or May; they are light bluish green marked like the others with purplish or brownish black. Size .95 × .72. 591.1a. Anthony's Towhee. Pipilo crissalis senicula. Range.--Southern California and south through Lower California. Greenish blue. A very similar bird to the last but sightly smaller and lighter below. The habits and nesting habits of these birds are in every way identical with those of the California Towhee and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of that variety. They are fully as abundant in the southern parts of California as the others are in the northern. 592. Abert's Towhee. Pipilo aberti. Range.--Arizona and New Mexico north to Colorado and Nevada and east to southeastern California. Greenish blue. This bird is wholly brownish gray both above and below shading into reddish brown on the under tail coverts; the face is black. They are abundant in the valleys of Arizona and New Mexico, but unlike the preceding species, they are generally wild and shy. They nest in chaparral thickets along streams, the nests being constructed similarly to those of the California Towhee, and the eggs are not easily distinguishable from those of that species, but they are usually more sparsely specked and the markings more distinct. Size 1.00 × .75. Green-tailed Towhee. 592.1. Green-tailed Towhee. Oreospiza chlorura. Range.--Western United States, chiefly west of the Rockies from Montana and Washington south to Mexico; wintering in southwestern United States. Whitish. This handsome and entirely different plumaged species from any of the preceding would, from appearance, be better placed in the group with the White-throated Sparrow than its present position. It has a reddish brown crown, the remainder of the upper parts, wings and tail being greenish yellow; the throat is white, bordered abruptly with gray on the breast and sides of head. These birds place their nests on the ground. The nests are built similarly to those of the eastern Towhee, and the eggs, too, are similar, being whitish, finely dotted and specked with reddish brown, the markings being most numerous around the larger end. Size .85 × .65.





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CARDINAL.
Page 363 593. Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Range.--Eastern United States, north to New York and Illinois, west to the Plains and Texas. Resident in most of its range. Bluish white. These beautiful fiery red and crested songsters are one of the most attractive of our birds, and in their range, nest about habitations as freely as among the thickets and scrubby brush of wood or hillside. Their nests are rarely placed higher than ten feet from the ground in bushes, branches, vines, brush piles or trees; they are loosely made of twigs, coarse grasses and weeds, shreds of bark, leaves, etc., and lined with fine grass or hair. They frequently lay two or three sets of eggs a season, the first being completed usually early in May; three or four, and sometimes five, white or pale bluish white eggs are laid; they are very varied in markings but usually profusely spotted, more heavily at the large end, with reddish brown and lavender. Size 1.00 × .70. 593a. Arizona Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis superbus. Range.--Northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona. A larger and more rosy form of the Cardinal. Its eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern Redbird. 593b. San Lucas Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis igneus. Range.--Southern Lower California. Like the last but smaller and with less black on the forehead; eggs the same.
NEST OF CARDINAL.





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 Cardinal. 593c. Gray-tailed Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus. Range.--Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The male of this species is like the eastern Cardinal but the female is said to be grayer. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs identical with those of the latter. 593d. Florida Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis floridanus. Range.--Southern Florida. Supposed to be a deeper and richer shade of red. Eggs like those of cardinalis. 594. Arizona Pyrrhuloxia. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata sinuata. Range.--Northwestern Mexico and the southern border of New Mexico, Arizona and western Texas. Bluish white. This species is of similar form and crested like a Cardinal, but the bill is very short and hooked like that of a Parrot; the plumage is grayish, with wings and tail dull reddish; face and throat, and middle of belly rosy red. Their habits are the same as those of the Cardinal, but their nests are said to be slighter; they are placed in similar locations to those of the latter, the two species often nesting together in the same thicket. Their eggs are like those of the Cardinal but average smaller, although the ranges overlap so that the eggs cannot be distinguished. Size .90 x .70. Data.--San Antonio, Texas, May 16, 1889. Nest of fine grasses, lined with rootlets; 4 feet from ground in a mesquite tree. Texas Pyrrhuloxia. 594a. Texas Pyrrhuloxia. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata texana. Range.--Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Said to be grayer and the bill to average larger than that of the last. There are no differences in the nesting habits or eggs between the two varieties. 594b. San Lucas Pyrrhuloxia. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata peninsulæ. Range.--Southern Lower California. Smaller than the Arizona Cardinal but with a larger bill. The eggs are like those of the others but may average a trifle smaller.
Page 365 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 595. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Zamelodia ludoviciana. Greenish blue. Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding from the Middle States and Ohio north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia. This beautiful black and white bird with rosy red breast and under wing coverts, is one of the most pleasing of our songsters. They nest either in bushes or trees, generally between six and twenty feet from the ground and usually in thick clumps of trees or scrubby apple trees. The three or four eggs, which are laid in June, are greenish blue, spotted, most heavily about the larger end, with reddish brown. Size 1.00 × .75. Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 5, 1899. Nest of twigs and rootlets in small apple tree in woods; nest very frail, eggs showing through the bottom. NEST OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.
596. Black-headed Grosbeak. Zamelodia melanocephala. Pale greenish white. Range.--United States, west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico north to British Columbia; winters south of the United States. This species is of the size of the last (8 inches long), and is a bright cinnamon brown color with black head, and black and white wings and tail. The habits of this bird are the same as those of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and its song is very similar but more lengthy. Their nests, like those of the last, are very flimsy structures placed in bushes or trees, usually below twenty feet from the ground; they are open frameworks of twigs, rootlets and weed stalks, through which the eggs can be plainly seen. The eggs are similar to those of the preceding but are usually of a paler color, the markings, therefore showing with greater distinctness. Size 1.00 × .70.




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 Blue Grosbeak. 597. Blue Grosbeak. Guiraca cærulea. Bluish white. Range.--Southeastern United States, breeding from the Gulf north to Pennsylvania and Illinois, and casually to New England. Smaller than the last two species and deep blue, with wings and tail blackish, and the lesser coverts and tips of greater, chestnut. It is a fairly common species in the southerly parts of its range, nesting most frequently in low bushes or vines in thickets; the nest is made of rootlets, weed stalks and grasses and sometimes leaves. The three or four eggs are bluish white, unmarked. Size .85 × .65. Data.--Chatham Co., Ga., June 10, 1898. 3 eggs. Nest of roots, leaves and snake skin, lined with fine rootlets, 3 feet from the ground in a small oak bush. 597a. Western Blue Grosbeak. Guiraca cærulea lazula. Range.--Western United States north to Kansas, Colorado and northern California. Slightly larger than the last and lighter blue; nests the same and egg not distinctive. 598. Indigo Bunting. Passerina cyanea. Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia; winters south of the United States. Indigo Bunting. This handsome species is rich indigo on the head and neck, shading into blue or greenish blue on the upper and under parts. They are very abundant in some localities along roadsides, in thickets and open woods, where their song is frequently heard, it being a very sweet refrain resembling, somewhat, certain passages from that of the Goldfinch. Pale bluish white. They nest at low elevations in thickets or vines, building their home of grass and weeds, lined with fine grass or hair, it being quite a substantial structure. The eggs, which are laid in June or July, are pale bluish white. Size .75 × .52. 599. Lazuli Bunting. Passerina amœna. Range.--Western United States, breeding from Mexico to northern United States and the interior of British Columbia; east to Kansas. This handsome bird is of the size of cyanea, but is azure blue above and on the throat, the