1887.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 227 



overhead and out of «i<;lit, even the stoHd Judiaii who carried one ot 

 our packs ghiuced at iiie and uttered some word of a])proval. The 

 soug is indescribable, so I have tokl this long- story to show how even an 

 nnappreciative audience at an unfavorable time couhl be (;aptivated 

 by a remarkable bird song. 



Mr. Eidgway, who has heard the song of this species in many places 

 among the western mountains, suggests to me that the echoing walls 

 of rock which usually inclose the retreat of the bird serve to enhance 

 the beauty of the notes, and 1 myself do not doubt that they are ren- 

 dered more striking by the very desolateuess of the surroundings. 



Thryothorus bewicki spilurus (Vig). Vigor'' s Wren. 



This Wren was observed in moderate members at IJaird and at the 

 base of Shasta in summer. A few probably winter iu the hills about 

 the former place as I saw occasional ones there in February. Full- 

 grown young birds were discovered about June 1. 



Troglodytes cedon parkmanii(Au(l.)- Parkman's Tfren. 



Found breeding in considerable numbers about one of the cultivated 

 gardens of the United States fishery reservation. In midsummer they 

 were abundant among the piled-up logs of a certain clearing in the forest 

 at the base of Mount Shasta. Also seen at Eed Bluff in the spring. 



Anorthura hiemalis pacificus Bainl. IVt-steni IVinkr JVren. 



I did not meet with more than half a dozen individuals of this species 

 HI the interior, and these only in the rocky and mossy canons about the 

 Lower McCloud liiver in the fall and winter, but it was found every- 

 where about the redwood logging districts of Humboldt County. 



Cistothorus palustris Wils. Loiuj-biUed Mar.sh Wren. 



The conspicuous globular nests of this Wren were found clinging to 

 the stems of the tules wdierever our boat penetrated at Eagle Lake, 

 but no eggs were discovered. The bird is less numerous iu the marshes 

 of llumboklt County. 



Family CEirrHIlD.E. Ciieepeks. 

 Certhia familiaris ameiicaua (Bonap.). Broun Creeper. 



Noticed only occasionally in the pine forests inland. It ])robably 

 winters lower down, for stragglers were seen at JJaird in January and 

 numerous pairs in the Humboldt redwoods in December. 



P\'iiuily TARID^E. NuxnATCiiES and Tits. 

 Sitta caroliuensis aculeata (Cass.). Slender-billed Nuthatch. 



Decidedly not common, having been found only at rare intervals in 

 the McCloud Eiver hills and very seldom at Eed Bluflf. 



When seen they appeared rather silent, seldom giving vent to the 

 querulous notes so characteristic of Nuthatches, and which the eastern 

 species utters so constantly. A solitary individu:d was secured at Huia- 

 l)oldt Bay. 



