3o8 



THE WESTERN HOUSE WREN. 



spots ; back and scapulars barred ( rarely indistinctly ) witli dusky ; wings on 

 exposed webs and tail all over distinctly and finely dusky-barred ; sides of head 

 speckled grayish brown, without definite pattern ; below, light grayish brown, 

 indistinctly speckled or banded with darker brownish on fore-parts ; heavily 

 speckled and banded with dusky and whitish on flanks and crissum ; bill black 

 above, lighter below ; culmen slightly curved ; feet brownish. Length 4.50-5.25 

 (114.3-133.,^ ); wing 2.0S (52.8): tail 1.75 ( 44.6) ; bill .51 ( 13 ); tarsus .68 (17.2). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; brown above, lighter below; everywhere 

 more or less s])ecklcd and banded with dusky, brownish, or white. Larger and 

 with longer tail than Western Winter Wren. 



Nesting. — Nest: of sticks and trash, lined with fine grasses or chicken- 



Takcn 



in 



Oregon 



HOW'S THE \\'K.\THEU OUTSIDE? 



WESTERN HOUSE WREN AT ENTRANCE OF NESTING HOLE. 



feathers, placed in bird-boxes, holes in orchard trees, crannies of out-buildings, 

 etc. Eggs: 4-8, white, heavily speckled, and usually more or less tinged with 

 pinkish brown or vinaceous, with a wreath of a heavier shade about the larger 

 end. Average size, .64X.51 (16.3x13). Season: About May 15; one brood. 

 General Range. — Western LTnited States and Canada, north to British 

 Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, east to Illinois, south to Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — Not common summer resident, confined to lower 

 altitudes and, usually, vicinity of settlements. 



Migrations. — Spring: Tacoma, April 25, 1906, April 28, 1907. 



Authorities. — ? Trncjloditcs fnk'iis Ornithological Committee, Jonrn. Ac. 

 Nat. Sci. I'hila. V^U. 1837, p. 193 (Columbia River). ? Troglodytes parkuianii 



