THE ROCK WREN. 



317 



dozen of tlit- likeliest. And wlien it comes to lining the apijroaches of the 



chosen cavitv, what do you suppose they use.' Why. rocks, of course; not 



large ones this time, but flakes and pebbles of basalt, which rattle pleasantly 



every time the bird gi>es in ami i>ut. These rock chiles are sometimes an inch 



or more in diameter, 



and it is difficult to 



concei\'e how a bird 



with such a delicate 



beak can compass 



their removal. Here 



they are, however, to 



the cjuantity of half 



a pint or more, and 



they are just as much 



a necessity to e\-ery 



well-regulated Sal- 



pinctean household, 



as marlile steps are 



to Philadelphians. 



The nest itself is 

 rather a bulky affair, 

 composed of weed- 

 stalks, dried grasses, 

 and fine rootlets, 

 with a scantv linnis^ 

 of hair or wool ( all 

 East-side birds are 

 enthusiastic advo- 

 cates of sheep-rais- 

 ing). "Two broods 

 are raised in a sea- 

 son, the first set of 

 eggs appearing early 

 in May, the second 

 about the middle of 

 June. It is possiljle 

 that even a third set 



may sometimes be laid still later in the season, but tliese late sets are more 

 apt to be due to the breaking up of the first or second. The eggs vary from 

 five to seven, and are pure white in color, sprinkled rather sparingh" over 

 the surface with dots of a faint brownish red. most heavilv about the larger 

 end" (Bowles). 



Taken in Douglas County. Photo by the AtitJior. 



NESTING-SITE OF ROCK WREN IX BASAI,T CLIFF. 



THE NEST OCCUPIES THE UPPER CRANNY BUT THE "FRONT WALK" IS 

 COMPLETED BELOW. 



