66 Andrew Fackson Grayson. [ ZOE 
remaining quiet I succeeded in procuring two fine male specimens 
in excellent plumage. After I had once discovered its hiding- 
places and knew its habits, I procured specimens in other locali- 
ties, in the vicinity of Mazatlan, in both summer and. winter 
months. 
The song of this bird is charmingly melodious and full, resembling 
in its general tone some of our wood thrushes. It is very timid, 
never venturing into an open sunlit spot, but always concealed, and 
inhabits the darkly shaded solitudes. It is not a common or 
abundant species in this vicinity, 
Figures in plate—two males and one female ; about or little 
less than life size. 
Socorro WREN. Trog/odytes insularis Baird.—Upon nearing the 
rock-bound shores of the remote island of Socorro, the first melody 
that reaches the ear of the weary, sea-worn traveler, from its groves 
and rocky dells, are the sweet and cheerful songs of this busy and 
lively little wren. Indeed, upon my first visit to this island for the 
purpose of collecting the strange fauna peculiar to its wild solitude, 
the notes of this little bird were the first to greet my ears, as they 
came wafted by the breeze to our vessel, elating and filling my 
imagination with the pleasing prospects of finding it well peopled 
with the objects of my research. 
This diminutive species is very abundant and well distributed 
over the island. Like other members ot this family, its attire is mod- 
est and unpretending, but its song may be heard throughout the 
day, either among the trees or brushy covered rocks that crop out 
everywhere. Like all the birds of this locality it appears to be 
insensible to the close proximity of man. They seemed to rather 
court our society, and many of them came round our camp feeding 
upon the meat of crabs that were killed or the gleanings of our 
table. I never tired watching them climbing about over old logs or 
the trunks of standing trees, creeper-like, and often turning up the 
leaves on the ground at our feet in search of food. In the midst of 
all this busy occupation for subsistence, it frequently stops and 
mounts a bunch or twig to pour forth its cheerful little song, which 
is of considerable volume for a bird so small. 
They have not yet during my stay fully commenced nesting. I, 
however, found a nest without 
tree, which sufficiently proved to me that they rear their young in 
eggs in a knot-hole of a decayed — : 
