82 Oneida Historical Society. 



containing in its center a cosy nest, to which entrance was 

 obtained by a small round opening in the side. The eggs, six 

 in number, were white, rather evenly marked with small spots 

 and dots of reddish brown, and measured .67 x .50, .67 x .49, 

 .65 X .49, .67 X .50, .63 X .47 inches. 



241. Cistothorus stellaris. 



SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 



"Mr. Romeyn B. Hough shot two females of this wren Octo- 

 ber 27, 1877, in the town of New Bremen, Lewis County, and 

 writes me that he is confident that they breed there every 

 year." — (Mcrriam, "Preliminary List of the Birds of the Ad- 

 irondack Region.") 



242. Telmatodytes palustris palustris. 



LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 



A not common summer resident. This bird is very common 

 and breeds plentifully in the marshes of the Seneca River, a 

 short distance west of us. There we have observed it. Its 

 peculiar habit of building several nests for every one occupied 

 has been noted by others; and, while we kept no accurate 

 record, our judgment is that the number of unoccupied nests 

 is at least six or eight for every occupied one. It seems 

 probable from the notes under the Winter Wren that this 

 strange practice is also practiced by its sprightly little cousin. 



243. Certhia familiaris americana. 

 BROWN CREEPER. 



A not uncommon migrant. A summer resident in the West 

 Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. A nest was taken by the late 

 C. F. Carpenter, C. E., in Hamilton County, about twenty 

 miles northeast of Wilmurt JP. O., Herkimer County, N. Y.^ 

 July 28th, 1875. The nest was in a heavy forest, concealed 

 behind a piece of bark which had been partly torn loose from 



