316 TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 



Texas Cactus Wren and Its Nest 



It affords me much pleasure to 

 submit to my readers a nice origi- 

 nal photo view of our prairie cac- 

 tus wren on its abandoned nest, 

 encountered lately along the ' ' can- 

 vas back" lake, south of San An- 

 lonio and nearly opposite the old 



In the cactus jungles around the 

 stated lakes, and especially also 

 at the cactus jungles of the Leona 

 hills these merry little wrens 

 abound numerously, and their 

 large funnel-shaped v/eed nests 



Young But Fullgrowh^Oactus Wrens One On Nest 



Mitchell's lake hunting preserve, 

 These interesting and exceedr 

 ingly lively and attractive little 

 weaver-birds enliven the hunting 

 grounds with their merry chatter- 

 ing ways ; and they are found 

 very numerously whereever the 

 broad leafed opuntia cactus ex- 

 ist, especially along hilly regions 

 with plenty of dense brush thickets. 



are nearly exclusively found 

 built between two or more cactus 

 leaves. They are an exceedingly 

 restless lot and are often seen 

 among the cactus jungles running 

 swiftly along the ground, or, in 

 search of their insect food, inside 

 the cactus spaces. In general ap- 

 pearance they resemble somewhat 

 the beautiful canyon wren, but the 



