280 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



its all suitable regions in western North America from the eastern 

 edge of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific slope, except for the 

 restricted range of alhifrons in Texas. It differs but little from 

 alhifrons, being paler and smaller. 



Nesting. — We eventually foimd the nest of the pair we saw in 

 Apache Canyon. It was in a small cave at the base of a rock cliff, and 

 almost inaccessible in a crevice above a little shelf in the roof of the 

 cave. Other nests have been found in similar situations. For ex- 

 ample. Dr. Alexander Wetmore (1920) found a nest in a gulch near 

 Lake Burford, N. Mex., of which he says: 



The nest was placed on a small shelf of rock in the top of a shallow cave 

 or hollow in a sandstone cliff. This ledge was about 15 feet from the floor 

 of the gulch, and the cave was approximately 3 feet high. * * * The nest 

 measured 8 inches across the base and 3 inches tall. The cup containing the eggs 

 was 2^2 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. The foundation was composed 

 of a dozen or more small twigs upon which were placed moss and masses of 

 spider webbing with bits of leaves, catkins and bud scales. The nest Uning was 

 composed of a heavy felting of sheep's wool, most of it white, though a few 

 bits of dark brown wool were mixed through it. In addition, in the cavity con- 

 taining the eggs, were a few feathers of Great Horned Owl, Violet-green Swallow 

 and Cassin's Finch. 



The nest has been said to resemble that of the wood pewee in shape 

 and appearance, aiid W. E. D. Scott (1888a) says : 



In the Catalinas I took in all half a dozen nests that were built much like the 

 nest of the Phoebe [Sayornis phoebe), the .same thick, heavy walls, rather soft 

 and covered with green moss on the outside characterizing the structure, and 

 the inside cavity not so broad or shallow as in the case of the Phoebe. The 

 nest is generally placed in some deserted tunnel or cave, and at times in unused 

 buildings. It is found more frequently on some projecting ledge or shelf, and 

 rarely in some cranny or hole that will scarcely permit the old birds to enter. 

 The eggs are from four to six in number, and three broods are generally reared 

 each season. 



Mrs. Lila M. Lofberg (1931) has published an interesting account 

 of a most remarkable nest of this wren, which she studied intensively. 

 She says : "Early last spring the men in the general office of the South- 

 ern California Edison Co, at Big Creek, Fresno County, wondered 

 where all their clips, pins and such were disappearing to, when they 

 discovered a pair of Caiion Wrens (Catherpes mexicanus 'punctulatus) 

 were utilizing them in the building of their nest." After the wrens had 

 left it, she took the nest home and analyzed the wonderful collection 

 of varied materials that entered into it ; the energy and industry dis- 

 played by the birds in gathering the materials and building the nest 

 was hardly exceeded by the patience and painstaking care shown by 

 her in pulling it to pieces. Here is her description of it: 



The foundation, 4i/^ inches in height and 5 inches square at the base, contained 

 the following items: 152 twigs and slivers of wood ranging in length from % 

 to 8% inches, with a diameter or breadth of from '^k to V-y inch ; 15 lengths of 



