OUR WESTERN WRENS. 



TRANGERS who come to California 

 often say, " Why don't you have 

 the wrens here? " 



We do have some twelve or 

 fifteen sorts of wrens, all with 

 the familiar features of the wren 

 family, chunky little body, 

 stick-up tails, stout long toes, slightly curved beak. 

 But none of our wrens has yet learned to nest 

 about our homes, like the common Eastern wren. 

 Strangers coming here look out of their windows 

 or stand on the balcony, and seeing no wrens 



about the garden, conclude 

 we do not have this confid- 

 ing little bird. 



If one would see our 

 Western wrens, he must go 

 to the wooded foothills, or 

 canons, or into the dreary 

 arroyos and washes. 



Many common birds 

 that now nest and live 



134 



REFERENCE TOPICS. 



Effects on animal life of 

 cutting down forests 

 and cultivating wild 

 lands. 



Structure of cactus ; 

 reasons for spines and 

 dense cuticle. 



Rattlesnakes, their poi- 

 son-fangs and rattles. 



Tule-marshes. 



Eskimo Igloos. 



