78 CHECK LIST OF THIO 



GENUS CISTOT-HORUS. 



(*) (724) Short=billed Marsh Wren. 



(Cistothorus stellaris.) 



A regular summer resident of the south-western part of the Pro- 

 vince, but never abundant. Very rare elsewhere. I have taken two at 

 Toronto and have since found a pair breeding there. 



Breeds wherever found. 



GENUS TELMATODYTES. 



(725) Long=billed Marsh Wren. 



(Telmatodytes palustris.) 



A very abundant summer resident in marshes. Breeds throughout its 

 range in the Province. 



Arrives at the beginning of May ; departs about the middle of Oc- 

 tober. 



FAMILY CERTHIID^. (CREEPERS.) 



Bill slender, decurved as long as head, without notch or bristles. 

 Tarsus scutellate. Claws all very long, curved and compressed. Tail 

 feathers pointed, with stiffened shafts, somewhat like the tail of a Wood- 

 pecker and similarly used for support. 



Our only representative is a curious small bird which creeps about 

 the trunks and larger branches of trees searching for insects hidden in 

 the crevices of the bark. 



GENUS CERTHIA. 



(726) Brown Creeper. 



(Certhia familiaris americana.) 



A common resident, most abundant in southern Ontario during the 

 migrations. 



Breeds occasionally in the southern portion of the Province and regu- 

 larly in the interior and northward. 



FAMILY PARID^). (Tirs.) 



Bill not notched nor decurved ; loral feathers bristly ; nostrils con- 

 cealed by dense tufts. Tarsus scutellate ; plumage more or less lax, sub- 

 ject to few variations. 



All are insectivorous, gleaning their food from the trunks and twigs 

 of trees. They are invaluable guardians of the orchard and forest. 



