CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 707 



homes with that of the immediate surroundings. Often three or 

 more nests appeared to be the property of one pair of birds, those 

 occupied being several yards apart. The surphis nests are probably 

 built with the purpose of discouraging enemies, or possibly having 

 cause to fear rising of water, the birds are not satisfied with their 

 first attempts. 



One nest that I found contained four eggs of a pure glossy white 

 without a sign of coloration. They were slightly malformed and 

 almost globular in shape, measuring: .58 x .53; .58X.52; ,59 x .54; 

 •57 X .53, averaging .58 x .53, whilst an average specimen of the normal 

 egg measures .66 x .49. (L. ilf . Terrill.) In the Ottawa Naturalist, 

 Vol. XVIII., p. 120, the Rev. G. Eifrig describes the nests found by 

 him at Lake Dore, Renfrew county, Ont. 



725a, California Wren. 



Telmadotytes palustris paludicola (Baird) Ridgw. 1877. 

 Rather common in Burnaby lake about three miles from New 

 Westminster, B.C., in April, 1889. There were many nests, both 

 old and new, built securely to bullrushes (Scirpus lacustris) standing 

 in the water. All the nests were oven-shaped and evidently the 

 lake was the home of a large colony; in the summer of 1901 two 

 individuals were seen in a peat bog at Huntingdon, B.C., on the 

 49th parallel. (Spreadborough.) Recorded from Chilli wack by 

 Ridgway. 



725c. Western Marsh Wren. 



Telmatodytes palustris plesius (Oberholser). 1903. 



First seen at Penticton, Lake Okanagan, B.C., April 23rd, 1903, 

 breeding in the district but not common; common in the marshes 

 near Midway, B.C., May ist, 1905, building nests at that date. 

 {Spreadborough.) Found in the interior of British Columbia, only 

 breeding about the muddy margins of mountain lakes. (Streator.) 

 I have found this bird only east of the Coast range where it was very 

 abundant around the lakes along the Cariboo road. (Fannin.) A 

 few stay all winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Breeding 

 over the lake country east of the Coast range; I found it abundant 

 at Lac la Hache, B.C.; it must range much farther north than this, 

 probably to Stewart lake, lat. 54°. (Rhoads.) 



