284 LAND BIRDS 



The effect was irresistibly funny when one ventured out 

 to the edge of the nest and tilted its comically small tail 

 in exact imitation of its elders. Unfortunately, as soon 

 as our presence was discovered, fear spoiled the picture, 

 for tlie nestling crouched a moment and tlien scampered 

 back into the dark nesting place. As the nest was dis- 

 covered on a one day's trip, I do not know how old 

 the nestlings were nor how much longer they remained 

 in the nest. At this stage they were fully feathered, 

 but the dots were much less distinct, shading into the 

 general coloring. Otherwise they were like the adults. 

 The coloring was so exactly in harmony with the rocks 

 in which the nest was placed that the young birds were 

 practically invisible at a distance of ten feet. 



719 a. VIGORS WREN. — Thryomanes hemicki spilurus. 

 Family : The Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



Length: 5.00-5.50. 



Adults: Upper parts dark brown, with a conspicuous white superciliary 

 stripe ; middle tail-feathers more grayish brown and barred ; outer 

 feathers blackish, spotted and barred ; under parts gray, flanks 

 brownish. 



Young : Similar to adults. 



Geographical Distribution: California west of the Sierra Nevada to the 

 coast. 



California Breeding Range : Humid coast belt from Monterey to Men- 

 docino County, including San Francisco Bay region. 



Breeding Season : May. 



Nest: Placed in boxes, holes, fence posts, brush heaps, .stumps, etc. ; 

 made largely of sticks and grasses ; lined with feathers. 



Eggs : 6 to 7 ; white, finely speckled with reddish brown and lilac. Size 

 0.6i X 0.50. 



The Vigors Wren is a subspecies of the Bewick wren of 

 the Central United States, and combines the characteris- 



