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T H E T O W H E BUNTING.
FRINGILLA ERYTHROPHTHALMA, LINN.
P L A T E X X I X . M A L E A N D F E M A L E .
T H E flight of the Towhe Bunting is short, low, and performed from
one bush or spot to another, in a hurried manner, with repeated strong
jerks of the tail, and such quick motions of the wings, that one may hear
their sound, although the bird should happen to be out of sight. On the
ground, where it is more usually to be seen, it hops lightly, without moving
the tail more than the Common Sparrow of Europe. It is a diligent
bird, spending its days in searching for food and gravel, amongst the
dried leaves and in the earth, scratching with great assiduity, and every
now and then uttering the notes tow-hee, from which it has obtained its
name. At other times, it ascends to the top of a small tree, or its favourite
low bushes and briars, on which it sings very sweetly a few continued
mellow notes.
This species constructs a larger nest than birds of its size usually do,
and scoops out a place for its foundation in the earth, sometimes in an
open spot, more commonly at the foot of a small sapling or large bunch
of tall grass. The nest is sunk into the ground, so as to be level with it
at top, and is composed of dried leaves and the bark of vines, lined with
grasses of fine texture, as well as fibrous roots. The female lays from
four to six eggs, and rears two, sometimes three, broods each season. If
disturbed while sitting, she moves off apparently in great agony, but with
more celerity than most other birds, by which means she generally prevents
her nest being discovered. Snakes, however, suck the eggs, as does
the Crow. The young leave the nest long before they are able to fly, and
follow the mother about on the ground for several days. Some of the
nests of this species are so well concealed, that in order to discover them,
one requires to stand quite still on the first appearance of the mother. I
have myself several times had to regret not taking this precaution.
The favourite haunts of the Towhe Buntings are dry barren tracts,
but not, as others have said, low and swampy grounds, at least during
the season of incubation. In the Barrens of Kentucky they are found
in the greatest abundance.
TOWHE BUNTING. 151
Their migrations are performed by day, from bush to bush, and they
seem to be much at a loss when a large extent of forest is to be traversed
by them. They perform these journeys almost singly. The females set
out before the males in autumn, and the males before the females in
spring, the latter not appearing in the Middle Districts until the end of
April, a fortnight after the males have arrived. Many of them pass the
confines of the United States in their migrations southward and northward.
Although these birds are abundant in all parts of the Union, they never
associate in flocks, but mingle during winter with several species of
Sparrow. They generally rest on the ground at night, when many are
caught by weasels and other small quadrupeds. None of them breed in
Louisiana, nor indeed in the State of Mississippi, until they reach the
open woods of the Choctaw Indian Nation.
I have represented the male and female moving through the twigs of
the Common Briar, usually called the Black Briar. It is a plump bird,
and becomes very fat in winter, in consequence of which it is named
Grasset in Louisiana, where many are shot for the table by the French
planters.
F R I N G I L L A E R Y T H R O P H T H A L M A , Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 318.-— Ch. Bonai>artc,
Synops. of Birds of t h e United States, p. 112.
E M B E R I Z A E R Y T H R O P H T H A L M A , Lath. Ind. Omith. vol. i. p. 413.
T O W H E B U N T I N G , E M B E R I Z A E R Y T H R O P H T H A L M A , Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii.
p. 35. PL 10. fig. 5, Male; vol. vi. p. 90. PL 5 3 . fig. 5. F e m a l e— Lath. Synops.
vol. iii. p. 199.
Adult Male. Plate XXIX. Fig. 1.
Bill short, robust, narrower than the head, regularly conical, acute ;
upper mandible almost straight in its dorsal outline, as is the lower, both
having inflected edges ; the gap line nearly straight, a little deflected at
the base. Nostrils basal, roundish, open, partially concealed by the
feathers. Head rather large, neck shortish, body robust. Legs of moderate
length, rather robust; tarsus longer than the middle toe, covered
anteriorly with a few longish scutella; toes scutellate above, free, the lateral
ones nearly equal; claws slender, arched, compressed, acute, that of
the hind toe long.
Plumage rather compact above, soft and blended beneath. Wings of