WRENS 



(713) Heleodytes brunneicapil- 



luS COUesi (Sliarpe) (Gr., a marsh 

 divtr, or inhabitant; Lat., brown hair). 



CACTUS WREN. Plumage as 

 shown; brownish above, darkest on 

 the crown and grayest on the tail; 

 wings and tail barred with black, the 

 primaries and outer tail feathers aLso 

 being spotted with white; below white 

 shading to buff on the sides and bell}'; 

 throat and breast spotted with black 

 and flanks streaked with the same; a 

 white superciliary stripe above the 

 dusky auriculars. L., 8. 50; W., 3.40; 

 T., 3.35; B., .90. Nest — In cactus, 

 yucca or thorny bushes; bulky, of 

 sticks and weeds, hned with feathers; 

 entrance on the side; eggs whitish, 

 minutely dotted with reddish-brown. 



Range — From middle Tex., N. 

 Mex., Utah, Nev. and southern Cal. 

 south to northern Mex. 



singing, they usually skulk through the underbrush or 

 thickets, but occasionally the male will chase his mate or a 

 rival over and through the bushes, their bright rusty plumage 

 and long rufous tails flashing in the sunlight. Thrashers are 

 wonderful songsters. They sometimes introduce notes of 

 other birds but generally their song is a distinctive one of 

 their own. It is clearer and fuller than that of the Catbird 

 and has fewer harsh notes. The song can readily be identi- 

 fied without seeing the performer for it is delivered in coup- 

 lets, every note or passage being repeated. Thoreau de- 

 scribes it very aptly when he says: "While you are planting 

 the seed he cries, 'Drop it, drop it — cover it up, cover it up 

 — pull it up, pull it up, pull it up.'" Their call note is a 

 deep-toned "tsook." A loudly whistled "wheu-u-u-u" is 

 used during moments of excitement and an explosive "ca-a-a 

 arr" denotes extreme anger and is used when any one at- 

 tempts to investigate the contents of their nests. They are 

 very valiant in defense of their homes and will dash toward 



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