WRENS 



(715) Salpinctes obsoletus ob= 

 soletus 



(Say) (Gr., a trumpeter; Lat., obsolete). 



ROCK WREN. Plumage as 

 shown; upper parts dull grayish- 

 brown, specked with black and white 

 dots; rump light reddish-brown; wings 

 and tail barred with black; outer tail 

 feathers tipped with light buff and 

 with a subterminal black band; un- 

 der parts dull whitish, shading to 

 brownish on the flanks; indistinctly 

 streaked on the breast. L., 5.75; W., 

 2.7s; T., 2.25; B., .70; Tar., .80. 

 Ncsl — Usually in crevices about 

 rocks; less often in stumps; some- 

 times about buildings; eggs white, 

 finely spotted about the large end 

 with chestnut-brown, .72 x .54. 



Range — Breeds from Sask. and B. 

 C. south to Mexico; east to N. Dak., 

 Neb. and Tex. 



you screaming and with their yellow eyes blazing with anger. 

 I liave had them even peck severely at my fingers when reach- 

 ing toward the nest. 



Family TROGLODYTID.E. Wrens 



CACTUS WRENS are the largest members of this notable 

 musical family found within our borders. Size, however, 

 has little to do with musical ability even among wrens, for 

 the monotonous, grating "chut, chut, chut, chut" uttered 

 by this species shows no traces of the talent of some of the 

 smaller members of the family. They are very commonly 

 met with in the southwestern lands of cactus, mesquite, and 

 yucca. They are not timid and may be seen everywhere 

 perched on the tops of branches, heads up and tail drooped 

 in characteristic wren fashion while singing. 



Their nests, placed among yuccas or cactus thorns, are 



401 



