WESTERN BIRDS Wren 



the near-by valleys and lowlands to the delight of all 

 who come across it. 



The nest is built in decayed stumps, crannies, up- 

 turned roots, or like places, and much green moss is 

 used in its make-up. With this are twigs for a founda- 

 tion and hair, feathers, wool, and finer moss which make 

 a cozy inside. Like most of their tribe, the nest is bulky 

 and the opening to it small. 



One cannot help but wish that these interesting little 

 Wrens might be more abundant in their entire range. 



GENUS TELMATODYTES : TULE WEEN. 



Tule Wren: Telmatodytes palustris paludicola. 

 FAMILY— WRENS. 



The Tule Wren is found the entire length of the 

 Pacific Coast and resembles the Marsh Wren of the east. 

 It is about five and one-half inches long and is more 

 distinctive in markings than most of the tribe. The top 

 of the head is black with middle of crown washed with 

 brown and a white line over the eye. The middle of back 

 is black broadly streaked with white ; rest of upper parts 

 brown; middle tail feathers and tail coverts generally 

 distinctly and continuously barred with black; under 

 parts soiled whitish with flanks brownish. The tail is 

 carried up over the back in the perkiest of Wren fashions. 



These birds build wonderful nests by pulling down 

 portions of the reeds and weaving them into a ball which 

 has an entrance on one side. It is placed well up above 

 the water and lined with fine grasses and material to 

 withstand moisture. The curious thing about this nest- 

 building is that the birds build many of them, and the 

 patient bird student must wade through the moisture 

 from nest to nest before the one really containing the 



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