MOCKERS AND SCOLDERS 147 



pickeder in front, and make more fuss. When they 

 fust come, 'long about May, or nigh outer June, they 

 act kinder shy like, but they get uster to yer, soon's 

 they find nobody ain't goin' to bother with 'em, and 

 stay around altogether, mostly in the rocks. Last y'ar 

 there was two on 'em come nigh chinking up this she- 

 bang with trash they hauled in for a nest, afore they 

 got it fixed to suit 'em, and had it chuck full o' speckled 

 eggs. Then one of these yere blamed pack-rats tore it 

 all up, and they had to start in to hauling more trash.' 

 " So you see, children, this miner knew a Rock Wren 

 — do .you know a Jenny Wren?" 



The Rock Wren 



Length nearly six inches. 



Back gray, with fine black-and-white dots. 



Under parts no particular color. 



Some of the tail-feathers with black bars and cinnamon-brown 

 tips. 



A Citizen of the United States from the Rocky Mountains to 

 the Pacific Ocean. 



A Ground Gleaner. 



THE HOUSE WREN 



" We all know Jenny Wren ! " cried the children. 

 " The Farm is full of Jennies and Johnnies ! " 



" They build in bird-boxes," said Dodo. 



" And in old tin cans, and water pots, and anything 

 they find," said Rap. 



" And Jenny does most of the work ; if the can is 

 very large she fills it full of sticks until there is only a 

 cosy little corner left for the nest, for she is a very neat 

 bird," said the Doctor, when he could be heard. '' She 



