158 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



tall yuccas, bush cactuses, and other thorny bushes. 

 The birds feed largely on fruit and on ground insects, 

 and seem to be comparatively independent of any 

 visible water supply. 



Cactus wrens (Figs. 51 and 52) are found over the 

 whole valley country, and especially in the canyons 

 and up over the cactus-covered ridges, where they live 

 the year round, and build their numerous nests in the 

 thorniest plants they can find. A pair occupied a last 

 year's nest in a large bush cactus (Opuntia arbor escens) 

 within six feet of my cabin door at the cave camp. 

 When I arrived on March 11 the weather was still cool, 

 with high winds and freezing nights, but the birds were 

 there and as much in evidence as at any time of year. 

 One was using the old nest to sleep in at night, while 

 its mate was sleeping in another nest on the side of the 

 ridge above. My cabin faced the east, and through the 

 wide cracks in the boards the sun shone across my face 

 as soon as it came above the horizon in the morning; 

 but always just before the sun came up the Heleodytes — 

 sun-worshiper — would perch on the roof just over my 

 door and pour out his soul in the most rapturous song 

 of which he was capable. Often he would sing almost 

 continuously for half an hour before starting out to 

 hunt for his breakfast. 



Later some inquisitive person pulled the nest open 

 to see what was in it, and the wrens gave it up and be- 

 gan another nest in a cactus farther up the gulch. A 

 dozen of their nests in good repair, and many of them 

 in nightly use, could be found within a half-mile of the 

 cave entrance, and endless numbers beyond. The 



