ISO 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
Number i reminds me remotely of the spring song of the California Brown 
Towhee ; hut it is not like the song of the Canyon Wren. There is no “de- 
scending” series of notes to warrant the absolutely erroneous book-name of 
"scale-bird”! Each of the different series of notes is uttered on precisely or 
very nearly the same pitch. 
It often happens that one Wren-tit will begin its series of notes promptly 
after another has begun its series, so that the two series overlap. As the tone 
of voice varies among individuals, and possibly in the same individual at differ- 
ent times, there results from this overlapping a peculiar and often quite musical 
cadence. The tendency for individuals to answer one another across a canyon 
is often in evidence. 
Number 3 recalls one of the notes of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Num- 
ber 5 has been described as an “insect-like chirp”, and as a “hissing or cricket- 
like note.” It depends on the insect in the descriher’s memory! I have failed to 
think of any satisfactorily comparable noise to he heard commonly anywhere. 
As noted above, it can he reproduced after a fashion by rubbing- dry, rough- 
harked weed-stalks against one another. 
In past years I have been guilty of killing, for specimens, close to two hun- 
dred Wren-tits in various parts of California — a horrible confession, to be sure, 
hut let us hope always to some good purpose. As one result, it has been estab- 
lished that there is no appreciable difference between the sexes in external ap- 
pearance or behavior. The notes are all of them identical in the two sexes, as I 
have proven over and over again to my satisfaction by shooting the birds utter- 
ing them. 
It is questionable, therefore, whether there is any regular nuptial song, and 
in this lack of a true song the wren-tit resembles the Bush-tit (see Condor, 1903, 
pages 85 to 87). There is also no .song-season, the notes described being heard 
at anv and all times of the year. They are particularly noticeable during the 
molting season, August, when most other birds are silent. 
During most of the year the Wren-tit forages in pairs. Two or more pairs 
are often found in one neighborhood. In event of some exciting occurrence to 
attract attention, several pairs may he found congregated in one spot. From 
the nesting season through the summer to the time of fall dispersal family parties 
of from four to six Wren-tits, young with their parents, are the rule. Individuals 
and companies are more prone to wander during August and September than at 
other times of the year. I have seen them in late summer in the garden shrub- 
bery of a city suburb, many blocks from any wild land. Wren-tits are pre-emi- 
nently non-migratory, however; they are one of the most resident, that is, most 
closely home-abiding at all seasons, of our birds, of similar status in this respect 
to the Brown Towhee and California Thrasher. 
The generic name Chaniaea, meaning “on the ground,” is scarcely more ap- 
jiropriate than the specific name fasciata, meaning- “striped” ! The W ren-tit is 
not at all terrestrial in any of its habits, in the sense that a towhee, or a meadow- 
lark is. I do not recall ever having seen a Wren-tit scratch in fallen leaves or 
earth, or even walk upon the ground, save to a very limited extent in approaching 
a drinking place. This is essentially a perching bird, tbough it habitually affects 
a lozv zone of arborescent shrubbery. 
The movements of the Wren-tit are relatively slow and dignified. There are 
no nervous twitchings of the wings, or other extreme mannerisms as with the 
kinglets. Articles of food — insects, seeds, and small fruits — are gathered in 
sober fashion, with moderate reaching out of the head in normal posture. There 
