DESCRIPTIVE LIST 319 



This is distinctly a marsh-bird. At Raleigh the species is sometimes quite com- 

 mon in the spring migrations, and occasionally also in the fall. Coues called it 

 abundant during migrations at Fort Macon, in the early seventies, and states that 

 no nests were observed. Only one form of the Long-billed Marsh Wren was then 

 recognized, so we cannot be certain to what variety his notes refer. 



The nests are globular and about the size of a cocoanut. The opening is on the 

 side, and the nests are built among bunches of reeds, rushes, or cattails, the birds 

 constructing many more nests than they actually use. The eggs are very dark, 

 being so thickly marked with brown as to appear of a uniform chocolate color. 

 Size .65 x .55. 



Worthington's Marsh Wren, Telmatodytes palustris griseus (Brewst.), is a subspecies of the 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren, being much paler, with the black of the upperparts and the white of the 

 lower parts more restricted. The brown of the flanks and sides is pale and grayish. This form 

 breeds on the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, and perhaps occurs also in North Carolina. 



324. Telmatodytes palustris marianse (Scott}. MARIAN'S MARSH WREN. 



Description. Similar to palustris, but smaller, with the upperparts darker, the sides and 

 flanks more heavily washed and of about the same color as rump; the under tail-coverts, and 

 sometimes sides and breast barred or spotted with black. W., 1.80; T., 1.50; B., .52. 



Remarks. The amount of black above is variable and the general tone of color in some speci- 

 mens closely approaches that of palustris, from which, however, the heavily barred under tail- 

 coverts separate this race. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Portions of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. Part or all of the salt-marshes of the coast. 



Marian's Marsh Wren has been reported from Pea and Bodie islands, where 

 Bishop records it as a resident, breeding in late May and June. Pearson took two 

 specimens on Gull Shoal Island in Pamlico Sound, May 28, 1898, and found the 

 species abundant and nesting there; he took another at Old Topsail Inlet, August 2, 

 1898. He heard marsh wrens singing near Southport on June 9, 1898, and found 

 a nest of three eggs, but the birds were not identified. 



The nesting habits are similar to the preceding species. 



55. FAMILY CERTHIID>. CREEPERS 



A family of small arboreal birds, mainly belonging to the Old World. One 

 genus is represented in North America by a single species. 



Genus Certhia (Linn.) 



Contains species with slender decurved bill, and with the tail-feathers acute and 

 stiffened somewhat like those of a woodpecker. The single American species is 

 represented by several subspecies, one of which occurs with us. 



325. Certhia familiaris americana (Bonap.}. BROWN CREEPER. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts mixed with white, fuscous, and ochraceous-buff; rump pale 

 rufous; tail pale grayish brown; a band of cream-buff through all but outer wing-feathers; bill 

 curved; tail-feathers stiffened and sharply pointed; underparts white. L., 5.66; W., 2.56: T.. 

 2.65; B., .63. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding mainly north of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State in winter, and breeds on the higher mountains. 



