Mar., 1921 THE BIOGRAPHY OF NIP AND TUCK 47 
pleasure of the optimistic educator who sees training lay hold upon and glorify 
the inherent tendency. Altogether, remembering that he claims to be both 
biologist and educator, he derives much pleasure from the entire experience, 
which same constitutes a commendable philosophy. Try it, patient reader who 
may have followed to this point the lengthened but truthful biography of Nip 
and Tuck. 
Los Angeles, Califorma, December 9, 1920. 
NOTES ON TWO CHARACTERISTIC BIRDS OF THE 
SAN GABRIEL WASH 
By ROBERT S. WOODS 
WITH FOUR PHOTOS 
N THE STONY, brush-covered lands along the San Gabriel River at 
Azusa, Los Angeles County, California, the bird usually most in evidenée 
is the Cactus Wren (Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi), by reason of its 
active, noisy ways and the abundance of its bulky, flask-shaped nests in various 
Fig. 9. ADULT CACrUS WREN PERCIIED ON “LEAF” OF PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS; SAN 
GABRIEL WASH, NEAR AZUSA, CALIFORNIA; MARCH, 1916. 
stages of decay. The majority of the nests, which are constructed of dead 
weeds and grass and lined with feathers, are placed in the taller clumps of 
prickly pear, probably on account of the small size of mest of the cholla eac- 
