ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 309 



from the beach to the summit, but was found to be most 

 numerous on the upper and central portions. They were by 

 nature tamer than any birds I ever met with. While re- 

 treating, if approached, they would in turn draw quite near 

 to a person who remained perfectly quiet. Sitting down 

 one afternoon upon a log, I saw a Eock Wren come hopping 

 closer and closer to where I was resting, -until at length he 

 perched upon my shoe. Then seeing a sandy spot just be- 

 yond, he availed himself of the opportunity by taking a 

 dust-bath. So close was he to me that I could have reached 

 him with my foot, yet constantly in motion, searching here 

 and there among the rocks for food, he seemed entirely un- 

 conscious of my presence. Even when standing they are 

 seldom quiet, a nervous twitch of the tail or toss of the head 

 bearing witness to the incessant activity so characteristic of 

 these little creatures. 



Seldom silent, they have, in addition to their ringing call, 

 a considerable variety of song. I became accustomed to 

 the variations of four or five different birds, and noticed 

 that each had a song peculiar to himself but differing from 

 tlie songs of his fellows. One little wren near camp was in 

 the habit of beginning his song each morning at about half- 

 past six, never varying five minutes from his self-appointed 

 time. They are usually seen on the ground or upon a rock 

 or stump. One remarkably foggy morning, I noticed one 

 sitting on the top of a sage-bush, while on fine days, I have 

 seen them mounted to the height of twenty feet on a dry 

 cypress twig, singing their cheerful song. 



Their food consisted mainly of caterpillars and beetles. 

 I watched one pick to pieces and devour successively three 

 small Carabide beetles. 



The weather does not seem to be taken into consideration 

 by any of the resident species. The rock-wrens are the 

 first to begin nesting, and endeavor to conduct their do- 

 mestic affairs through the stormiest times, though not 

 always with success. Many abandoned nests were found, 



