484 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [no. 27. 



Nannus hiemalis (Vieill.). Winter Wren. 



The winter wren seems to be of regular occurrence in the Atha- 

 baska — and probably in the Peace River — valleys. One was observed 

 in a thicket beside the Athabaska a snort distance below Grand Rapid, 

 August 20, 1901. 



While ascending the Athabaska in the fall of 1903 Alfred E. Preble 

 and Merritt Cary saw one near House River, August 22, and col- 

 lected one near Athabaska Landing. September 14. It proves refer- 

 able to the typical form. 



J. Alden Loring reported seeing single birds at Jasper House and 

 Henry House in the early autumn of 1895. It is probable that they 

 belonged to the western race. X. li. pacificus. 



Spreadborough, according to Macoun, who refers the record to the 

 western form, found the winter wren common in thick spruce woods 

 from Lesser Slave Lake to Peace River Landing in June, 1903." 



Telmatodytes palustris iliacus Ridgw. Prairie Marsh Wren. 



Under the name Troglodytes palustris, Richardson described a 

 male from the " southern sources of the Elk River," one of several 

 taken by Drummond in that region. 6 The catalogue of the birds in 

 the National Museum records 2 specimens collected by Strachan 

 Jones at Lesser Slave Lake in 1868, and eggs were also received from 

 the same locality. 



J. Alden Loring reported that two pairs were seem at Edmonton, 

 September 10, 1894, and a specimen taken by him at that time has 

 been recorded under the name Cistothorus palustris plesius by Ober- 

 liolser.' According to Macoun, Spreadborough observed a number 

 at Edmonton, Alberta, May 10, 1897. The species was common by 

 May 13, and had eggs about the last of the month. A pair was ob- 

 served breeding at Peace River Landing. July 1. 1903. Specimens 

 from Edmonton and Peace River Landing are recorded.'' 



Certhia familiaris montana Ridgw. Rocky Mountain Creeper. 



While on their return trip in the fall of 1903 Alfred E. Preble and 

 Merritt Cary observed a brown creeper, probably referable to the 

 present form, in a grove of Pinus divaricata 20 miles south of Atha- 

 baska Landing. September 22. 



Sitta carolinensis aculeata Cass. Slender-billed Nuthatch. 



While ascending the Athabaska in the autumn of 1903 Alfred E. 

 Preble and Merritt Cary observed a white-bellied nuthatch, proba- 

 bly referable to the western form, near Swift Current Rapid, Au- 

 gust 28. 



°Cat. Canadian Birds, Fart III, p. G72, 1904. 

 6 Fauna Boreali-Americana, II. p. 320, 1831. 

 c Auk. XIV, p. 193, 1897. 

 d Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, pp. 677, 67S, 1904. 



