WRENS. 65 
is the only wren that eats these insects to any considerable extent 
except as nestlings. 
Bugs (Hemiptera) amount to only a little more than 5 percent of 
the food, which is the smallest quantity eaten by any of the wren 
family. This item, however, contains one unexpected element—that 
is, black scales (Saissetia). These appeared in 6 stomachs, and must 
have been obtained from trees or shrubs, possibly from fruit trees. 
Jn any case their destruction is a welcome service. Caterpillars and 
their allies (Lepidoptera) were eaten to the extent of a little more 
than 5 percent. Among them were many cocoons of tineid moths, 
indicating again that the cactus wren obtains some of its food from 
trees and shrubs. A few unidentifiable insects and spiders amount 
to somewhat more than 3 percent. This is the smallest record for 
spiders of any of the wren family, which is much given to eating 
these creatures, finding them in crannies in rocks, stumps, and other 
places. A few of the long bones of a tree frog were found in 1 
-stomach. 
Vegetable food.—Seventeen percent of vegetable matter was found 
in the stomachs of this bird. This is the largest percentage found 
in the stomachs of any species of wren yet examined. .The vege- 
table food of the cactus wren consists of fruit pulp and weed seeds. 
The former amounts to nearly 13 percent, but in all cases where 
identification was possible consisted of wild species. Of these, only 
3 were fully identified—cactus (Opuntia), elderberry (Sambucus), 
and Cascara (Rhamnus), the last only in 1 stomach. Nothing 
was found to indicate that cultivated varieties had been eaten. 
Seeds, which amount to 4 percent, are those of the poison oak (Rhus). 
and a nonpoisonous species, with filaree (Erodium) and Amisinckia, 
most of them useless plants or worse. 
SUM MARY. 
From this brief inspection of the cactus wren’s food it is seen that 
it contains but little that is useful to man, while the great bulk is 
made up of elements that are, or would be, harmful if present on 
cultivated lands. The bird thus sustains the good reputation of 
the rest of its family. 
OTHER WRENS. 
Some half a dozen stomachs each of the western winter wren (Olbzor- 
chilus hiemalis pacificus) and dotted canyon wren (Catherpes meni- 
canus punctulatus) and the rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) have 
been examined. This number is entirely too small to serve for 
specific statements in regard to their food except that it may be said 
9379—No. 30—07——_5 
