38 The Birds of Albany County 



Family Certhiidae 



Brown CREEPER. — Certhia familiaris americana. 5.65 



Rare Fall, Winter, and Early Spring Visitant 



Field marks. — Brownish bird; creeps along the bark of trees; 

 looks like a mouse in feathers; slender, curved bill. 



It is hard to observe this bird because of its neutral colors 

 and shy disposition; but only a glimpse is necessary to establish 

 its identity, for there is no other bird here at all like it. 



Family Troglodytida? 



Subfamily Troglodytinee 



Long-billed Marsh Wren. — Telmatodytes palustris. 



5.21 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Conspicuous white line over eye; under parts 

 white; upper parts streaked and barred with dark 

 brown; never seen anywhere save in reedy marshes. 



Wherever cattails abound, along the Hudson River, in 

 marshes or about inland creeks or ponds of this County, the 

 effervescing, delightful, and incessant song of this little creature 

 is heard throughout the breeding season. One cannot fail 

 to find them, for, on approaching a colony, they seem to exist 

 by the hundreds, as all sing at once, both on the wing and 



