492 Cooke, Winter Birds of Oklahoma. [oct. 



but it was still present all winter. Began to sing February 16, and two days 

 later was in full spring song. All disappeared after March 19, but the 

 people of the town said they would return later and be the common House 

 \Yren of the summer. 



99. Nannus hiemalis hiemalis. Winter Wren. — Rare both in the 

 late fall after its arrival November 29, and through the winter until the last 

 was noted March 25; never more than three birds seen in one day. 



100. Certhia familiaris americana. Brown Creeper. — Arrived 

 the same day with the winter wren, November 29, and through the winter 

 was scarcely more common, but on February 23 they suddenly appeared 

 everywhere in the heavy timber along the Blue. The wave soon passed 

 on and a few days later all had disappeared. 



101. Sittacarolinensiscarolinensis. White-bellied Nuthatch. — 

 Not noted until the bottomland was visited November 29, though it un- 

 doubtedly is resident. A dozen birds were seen and they remained in 

 about the same numbers all winter. None were seen at any time away 

 from the heavy timber. By February 23, they had become noisy, active, 

 and conspicuous. 



102. Baeolophus bicolor. Tufted Titmouse. — Had not been seen 

 along the small streams during the early fall, but when the heavy timber 

 of the Blue was entered November 29 it was found one of the most charac- 

 teristic birds. At least a hundred were seen, confined entirely to the trees 

 on the river's edge; not a titmouse was seen even a gunshot away from the 

 stream. They were present in about the same numbers on January 12, 

 but when the same woods were visited February 23, only a dozen were seen 

 where there had been a hundred in November. This must have been 

 merely temporary however, for in March they were just as common as ever, 

 and in this latter month they left the shelter of the heavy timber and were 

 found widely distributed. In November they were noisy, in January 

 silent, and in March striving to relieve themselves of the surplus of noise 

 thej' had accumulated through the winter. 



103. Penthestes carolinensis agilis. Plumbeous Chickadee. — A 

 common resident, numerous enough so that 30-40 would be seen in a 

 day's walk. It was found for the most part in the heavy timber, but a few 

 wandered into the fringes of small trees along the streams. It was in full 

 song February 23. 



104. Regulus satrapa satrapa. Golden-crowned Kinglet.— 

 When the bottomlands were visited for the first time, November 29, it was 

 already common, and had probably arrived a few days earlier; its numbers 

 were unchanged January 12, but it must have left earlier than most of the 

 winter residents, for when this same place was examined February 23, it 

 had already disappeared. 



105. Regulus calendula calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — 

 The first came November 7, but it was never common and the last was 

 seen December 9 before real winter arrived. It returned March 25 and was 

 abundant for a few days. 



