CANYON WREN 283 



ground of rocks. At first, as he creeps along some narrow ledge or 

 dodges in and out among the loose rocks and crevices of the cliff, we 

 may mistake him for a chipmunk or a white-throated mouse, so 

 mouselike are his movements. Soon he stops in full view on some 

 sharp prominence or even the crest of the cliff, throws back his head, 

 his silvery throat swells, and out pours the delicious strain; and 

 we are astonished to connect such a volume of sound with such a 

 tiny bird. 



The frequent outbursts of song are not allowed to interfere with 

 the serious business of the day; much of the daylight hours must 

 be spent in climbing over, under, and around the rocks, searching 

 in every nook and cranny for hidden insects and spiders. The 

 wren's feet, with their sharp claws, are well adapted for climbing, 

 even over nearly perpendicular surfaces and over the roofs of small 

 caves, much as a brown creeper negotiates the trunks and limbs of 

 trees. All day long this tireless bundle of feathered energy ex- 

 plores it rocky domain, disappearing from sight and suddenly ap- 

 pearing again at some unexpected spot, jumping or flitting from one 

 rock to another, its eyes ever alert for its tiny prey and its brown 

 tail erect, spread or flirted to express its feelings. 



The canyon wren is not particularly shy, merely somewhat elusive 

 and busy with its own affairs. About i-anches and houses it is often 

 quite unsuspicious and friendly. W. E. D. Scott (1885), writing 

 from Arizona, says: "During that portion of the year when we 

 live with doors and windows open (and this is for fully 9 months), 

 the little brown friend with silvery throat is often in the rooms of 

 the house, hopping about and searching every 'nook and cranny' for 

 insect life, and betimes singing as merrily as when on the faces of 

 the perpendicular rocks in the canons, which are ever the favorite 

 hunting grounds he delights in." And Howard Lacey (1911), who 

 lived in Kerrville, Tex., says that "for 2 years a pair lived with us 

 in the ranch house and became very tame, hopping about the floor 

 and even singing on the table while we were in the room. They 

 nested over one of the windows." 



Voice. — ^Many authors have given the voice of the canyon wren 

 unstinted and well-deserved praise, for its song is one of the best and 

 most surprising of the many delightful songs of American birds. No 

 song is quite like it, and when heard for the first time in the wild and 

 desolate rocky canyons, to which it is a fitting accompaniment as it 

 echoes from cliff to cliff, it creates an impression that can never be 

 forgotten. No description is adequate to convey this impression to 

 the reader, but the following quotations will give some idea of it. 

 Mrs. Bailey (1902) writes: "His voice is so powerful that the canyon 

 fairly rings with his song. What joyous notes ! They sound as if his 

 happiness were so great that he needs must proclaim it. His song 



