448 WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. 



tipped with g'ray and barred Avith brown, outer pair barred toward end 

 with whitish ; under parts grayish white, lightest on throat, ting-ed with 

 brown on sides and flanks ; under tail coverts barred with black. Wing : 

 2.07, tail 2.03, exposed eulmen .56. 



Remarks. — Calophonus is most nearly allied to spilurus^ but has a con- 

 spicuously larger bill and averages larger and darker. 



Distribution. — Pacific slope from Oregon north to southern Vancouver 

 Island and the Fraser River valley. Resident probably throughout its 

 range, at least from Puget Soimd southward. 



719.1. Thryomanes leucophrys (Anthony). San Clemente 

 Wren. 



Similar to charienturus, but paler, grayer above and on flanks ; under tail 

 coverts less heavily barred ; bill longer. Wing : 2.07, tail 2 ; bill .56. 



Distribution. — San Cleraenfe Island, California. 



GENUS TROGLYODYTES. 



General Characters. — Wing less than 3, about length of tail ; stretched 

 feet not reaching beyond end of tail ; inner toe united at base to middle 

 toe. 



KEY TO ADULTS. 



1. Upper parts brown. Pacific coast region . . parkmanii, p. 448. 

 1'. Upper parts grayish brown. Western states except coast region. 



aztecus, p. 449. 



721a. Troglodytes aedon parkmanii (Aud.). Parkman 



Wren : Pacific House Wren. 



Upper parts dull brown, all but head barred with blackish ; tail coverts 



barred with black and whitish ; under parts 



dingy, lightly barred. Length : 4.25-5.25, wing 



2.02, tail 1.85, exposed eulmen .49. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast region from 

 British Columbia south to California. 



Nest. — In holes in trees or about buildings, 

 made largely of twigs, lined with feathers. 

 Eggs : 5 to 7, pinkish white, thickly spotted 

 with reddish brown or brownish purple. 



The house wrens are just ordinary birds, 

 with no striking marks and nothing musi- 

 *'°' ^'^' cal or brilliant about their songs, but they 



are such persistently jolly little songsters that their charm is quite 

 irresistible. Wherever you meet them they are always singing, be 

 it about house or barn, deserted cabin, or old sycamore. Ebullient 

 is the only word that expresses them. Their notes fairly tumble 

 over each other, they are poured out so fast. At times the little 

 musicians become ecstatic, and raise their quivering wings till they 

 almost meet over the back. Besides their song the wrens have an 

 anxious scolding chatter, and the mother bird a quieting krup-vp- 

 up which she uses to soothe her brood. 



Raising a brood is a protracted process with the wrens. With one 



