he 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 x .75.

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.

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
x .65.

[Illustration 363: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 591.1--592--592.1.]
[Illustration: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Whitish.]
[Illustration: Green-tailed Towhee.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 362

[Illustration 364: 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.

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 x .70.

593a. ARIZONA CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis superbus._

Range.--Northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona.

A larger and more rosy form of the Cardinal. I