Anthony Towhee

Individuals of this species exhibit extraordinary jealousy, as evidenced from account by Dickey:

In the late Winter 1913-14, before mating season had commenced, an ANTHONY TOWHEE came every morning between nine and ten o'clock to a living room in General Nordhoff's Ojai Valley home.

Perched on the sill the bird eyed his reflection in the pane and set systematically to work to kill his supposed rival. The bird seemed to believe victory depended on frequent attacks, rather than intensity, so bill blows rained on the glass with persistency of dripping water. The attack continued for hours until the bird was completely exhausted or until the light changed and the reflection vanished.

These attacks were carried on for weeks until the breeding season ended in early summer, then stopt of its own accord.

Next Spring the warfare was resumed and the bird was only subdued by covering the window with a wire screen. Thereafter the General smoked his postbreakfast cigar in peace!