180 THE CONDOR ?ol. XV Number I reminds me remotely of the spring song'of the California Brown Towhee; but 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 can3)on 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 describer's memory! I have failed to think of any satisfactorily comparable noise to be heard commonly anywhere. As noted above, it can be reproduced after a fashion by rubbing dry, rough- barked 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, but 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 Co?r)oR, I9O 3, pages 85 to.87). There is also no song-season, the notes described being heard at any 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 be 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 reside?t, that is, most closely hqme-abiding at all seasons, of our birds, of similar status in this respect to the Brown Towhee and California Thrasher. The generic name Chamaea, meaning "on the ground," is scarcely more ap- propriate than the specific name fasciata, meaning "striped"! The Wren-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, though it habitually affects a low zone of arborescent shi'ubbery. 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
