WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 285 



tics of this species with those of the Pacific house wren. 

 In the neighborhood of towns this bird prefers to nest 

 about houses, choosing all sorts of queer places in which 

 to rear its brood ; but throughout Western California, in 

 open districts as far south as Pasadena (although there 

 Mr. Grinnell calls it the San Joaquin Wren), it is found 

 building among brush heaps and in hollow trees. For 

 breeding habits see Parkman Wren, also called Pacific 

 House Wren. 



721a. PARKMAN WREN, OR PACIFIC HOUSE 



WREN. — Troglodytes aedon parhnanii. 

 Family : The Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



Length: 4.25-5.20. 



Upper parts grayish brown barred with blackish, except head ; tail 

 barred with black and pale ash)' ; under parts indistinctly barred 

 with ashy and brownish. 



Geographical Distribution : Pacific Coast from Biitish Columbia south to 

 California. 



California Breeding Ban^e : West of the Sierra Nevada nearly through- 

 out the State. 



Breeding Season : May. 



Nest : In cavities in trees, or about buildings ; of twigs ; lined with mass 

 of feathers. 



^ggs : 5 to 7 ; flesh-coloi', thickly speckled with pale brownish purple and 

 rusty. 



The Parkman Wren is the house wren of the Pacific 

 Coast and is a common summer visitant west of the 

 Sierra Nevada. His gay canary-like song rings from barn, 

 house, or cabin, wherever there is a crevice for him to 

 nest in. From morning until night the bubbling notes 

 "tumble over each other, they are poured out so fast," 

 and you wonder when he takes any breath, yet he is as 



