THE TULE WREN. 303 



in anv given nest onh- (Hio t(,'xtile substance will i)reponderate. Dead cat-tail 

 leaves may be employcil, in wliich case tiie numerous loopboles will be filled 

 witb matted down from tlie same plant. Fine dry grasses may be utilized, 

 and tbese so closely woven as practically to exclude tbe rain. On Moses Lake, 

 where rankly growing bulrushes predominate in the nesting areas, spirogyra 

 is the material most largely used. This, the familiar, scum-like plant which 

 masses under water in quiet places, is ])lucked out by the venturesome I)irds in 

 great wet hanks and jjlastered about Uie nest until the required thickness is 

 attained. While wet, the substance matches its surroundings admirably, but 

 as it dries out it shrinks considerably and fades to a sickly light green, or 

 greenish gray, which advertises itself among the obstinately green bulrushes. 

 Where this fashion prevails, one finds it possible to pick out immediately the 

 oldest member of the group, and it is more than likely to prove the occupied nest. 



The nest-linings arc of the softest cat-tail down, feathers of wild fowl, or 

 dried s])irogvra teased to a puint nf en(ku"ing fluffiness. It a])pears, also, that 

 the Wrens often cover their eggs upon leaving the nest. Thus, in one we 

 found on the 17th of May, which contained seven eggs, the eggs were com- 

 plete! \- buried under a loose blanket of soft vegetable fibers. The nest was 

 ])v no meatis deserted, for the eggs were warm and the mother bird very 

 solicitous, insomuch that slie re])eatedl\- x-entured witliin a foot of m\- hand 

 while I was engaged with the nest. 



The Marsh Wrens regard themselves as the rightful owners of the reedy 

 fastnesses which they occu])y, and are evidently jealous of avian, as well as 

 htiman, intruders. In one instance a Wren had constructed a sham nest hard 

 against a completed structure of the Yellow-headed Blackbird, and to the 

 evident retirement of its owner. ,\nother had liuill squarelv on top of a 

 handsome Blackliird nest of the current season's, construction, and with a 



spiteful purpose all too evident. 



No. 117. 



TULE WREN. 



A. O. V. No. 725 a. Telmatodytes palustris paludicola (Baird). 



Synonyms. — M.xrsii Wricx (locally). Wi:sti:rx M.\rsh Wrkn (now re- 

 stricted to '/'. />. plcsiiis). C.M.I FoKNi.v ]\r.\RSii Wrkx (inappropriate). P.xcrFrc 

 Marsh Wricn. 



Description. — .Idult: Similar to T. p. pJesius, but smaller and with colora- 

 tion decidedly darker. Length about 4.75 (120.6); wing 1.97 (50); tail 1.73 

 (44 I ; bill .-,2 (13.2) : tarsus .78 (20). 



