WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 297 
generis. There is nothing like them east of the one- 
hundredth meridian and they are well worth a long 
journey to study. 
The Wren-tit is a unique combination, as his name 
implies. Exceedingly difficult to watch, he slips along 
the ground under the chaparral and through fields of 
dead mustard stalks, eluding observation as well as 
pursuit by scooting into the thickest patches of weeds, 
until the patience of the student is exhausted and he 
drops down to rest in a shady corner. This is really 
the best thing to do, for if one keeps still long enough 
the bird is sure to come into view, and often, impelled 
by curiosity, will approach within a watchable distance. 
With tail atilt over its back, like a wren, it sidles up the 
dry stalks, searching diligently for insects, but with one 
eye on its visitor. A slight movement on your part 
will send it diving into the thick tangle out of sight 
again, and only its harsh, scolding notes will betray its 
whereabouts. Its long tail is the Wren-tit’s most 
expressive feature, for it wags up and down in excite- 
ment or anger, and it shakes when the bird sings, as if 
it had some part in helping on the music. The song 
is described as a “clear ringing voice running down 
the scale slowly, distinctly, ‘keep, keep, keep, keep-it, 
keep-it, ending in a trill.” At other times it is a 
slow, monotonous singing note like “ pee-pee-pee-peep, ” 
and again a varied succession of whistles. In the early 
spring the Wren-tits wander in pairs, keeping up a 
constant call and answer, somewhat like a quick “ pit- 
pit, prrrrt.” 
