134 Edible Mollusks. [ZOE 
clew to the many empty nests seen during the summer, and, hoping 
to gather further information, the locality was frequently visited 
until December 16. The work of rebuilding the old nests continued 
during pleasant weather until about the first of December. By this 
time all of the nests of the vicinity were so thoroughly repaired that 
they had every appearance of new nests. At no time was there 
more than one bird to be seen. I think, however, that a pair were 
interested in the improvements, as the notes of a second wren were 
heard at no great distance. During storms or cold windy weather 
I frequently found cactus wrens in the very near vicinity of these 
and other nests, and while I never succeeded in catching them in 
the nests I am confident that they were made use of at such times 
as shelters from the storm and probably also as roosting places. It 
would also appear that several of the nests were repaired and used 
during the winter by the same pair of wrens. 
Upon coming to the Pacific Coast I was immediately impressed 
with the difference in the nesting habits of the species as seen in 
Southern and Lower California, and in the higher regions of New 
Mexico and Arizona. I am unfortunately without a series of meas- 
urements of the nests of the two regions, but am safe in saying the 
bird of the coast region buiids a smaller nest, especially noticeable 
in its much shorter covered opening, which in fine specimens from 
the interior (New Mexico and Arizona) frequently measures from 
twelve to fourteen inches in length and is supported by being built 
along a horizontal branch of chol/a cactus or thorny bush. Califor- 
ma nests are seldom or never, as far as my experience goes, found 
in colonies. Two or more nests are sometimes seen in the same : 
thicket of cactus, but in such case each nest is used by a pair of 
birds, there being no supplementary nests to be used as lodging- 
houses, as would appear to be the case in the interior, nor have I | 
any evidence of the nests in mild coast region being rebuilt for use 
In winter. : 
EDIBLE MOLLUSKS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. 
BY HENRY HEMPHILL. 
In the January number of the Nautilus, Professor Josiah Keep, 
of Mills College, published an article on the “Edible Mollusks ot 
San Francisco Markets’’; and in the July number of the same. 
journal, Mr. R. E. C. Stearns, of the U. S. National Museum, adds 
