Description

John Cassin (1813-1869)
Plate 7,TheGround Wren
From: Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1856
Chromolithograph
Paper dimensions:10.5 x 7″
Framed dimensions: 12.75 x 21″

With text below image:
TheGround Wren is a common bird of the Pacific Coast chaparral (from Oregon to California to the north state of the Baja California peninsula), and lives among the region’s dense shrubs and woodland. It has a small body, a short bill, short wings, a long tail, and uniform gray and brown plumage. Due to its tendency to nest in thick shrubs, it is more likely to make itself known by its resonant bird call, which is reminiscent of the sound of a ping pong ball bouncing, than by sight.