NORTHERN CACTUS WREN 227 



of the birds. This, however, is not true, as the throat patches assumed 

 by the birds in their first autumn are likely to show nearly the maximum 

 degree of blackness; whereas in individuals having more than the 

 usual amount of white on the throat, this character persists from year 

 to year. 



Food.—Prot. F. E. L. Beal (1907) has reported on the contents of 

 41 stomachs of cactus wrens "taken in the region from Los Angeles to 

 San Bernardino, and from July to January, inclusive. They con- 

 tained about 83 percent of animal matter to 17 of vegetable." Beetles 

 and Hymenoptera ("the latter ants and wasps") each made up about 

 27 percent of the total, 10 percent of the former being weevils. Grass- 

 hoppers constituted 15 percent, Lepidoptera 5 percent, and bugs 

 (Hemiptera) 5 percent, including black scale (Saissetia) in six stom- 

 achs. The percentage of spiders was lower than in other wrens. "A 

 few of the long bones of a tree frog were found in 1 stomach." 



The proportion of vegetable food was found to be larger than in 

 other wrens : 13 percent was made up of fruit pulp, which in all cases 

 where identification was possible consisted of wild species, including 

 cactus {Ojmntia), elderberry {Sanibucus) ^ and cascara {Rhamnus). 

 The 4 percent of seeds consisted of Rhiis^ filaree (Ei^odin/m) , and 

 Amsinchia. Summarizing the cactus wren's diet. Prof. Beal says that 

 "it contains but little that is useful to man, while the great bulk is 

 made up of elements that are, or would be, harmful if present on 

 cultivated lands." 



Supplementing the mention of tree-frog bones. Dr. Tracy I. Storer 

 (1920) reports taking a cactus wren near Mojave, Calif., that had 

 swallowed a lizard about 2 inches in length. Aside from the edible 

 kinds of cactus fruit, all cultivated fruits seem to be ignored. The 

 birds do, however, greatly enjoy young sweet corn if the husks are 

 stripped down to give them access to the grains. One will also oc- 

 casionally visit a feeding-table for bread crumbs, but these are not 

 attractive enough to them to establish a regular habit where insects 

 are plentiful. The animal portion of the food appears to be obtained 

 predominantly from the ground, among fallen leaves and other debris. 



Behavior. — Mr. Dawson (1923) says that the cactus wren "is the 

 most wary and secretive of the Troglodytine race." However, those 

 that nest near human habitations soon forget their shyness and allow 

 as close an approach as most of our dooryard birds. On one occasion 

 I found that a pair living some distance away from any evidences 

 of civilization refused to return to their nest and feed their young 

 while a camera remained near; but those that nest near buildings 

 show no such fear and will even make the camera or its tripod a 

 way-station on their trips to and from the nest. 



The demeanor of the cactus wren is that of a creature which finds 

 ample interest and enjoyment in life; especially is this true of the 



