76 Wyoming BIirds. 



725c. Telmatodytes palustris plesius: Western Marsh Wren. 



The only recent record is by Lockwood and Walker, who 

 took two specimens while collecting together in May, 1912. 

 Knight indicated that it was probably a summer resident, 

 but so far there are no breeding records. Lockwood had 

 found it before in this locality. 



CERTHHDAE (Creepers). 



The Brown Creepers are efficient friends of the forest. They 

 climb the tree trunks, rarely being found upon the branches. Their 

 stiff tail feathers, sharp claws, and long, curved bills adapt them to 

 this mode of life. They feed upon insects and their eggs, larvae, 

 and pupae, which are hidden away in the crevices of the bark. 



References : 



1. -"Useful Birds and Their Protection," Forebush, pp. 177-178, 



2. Year Book of the Department of Agriculture, 1908, p. 346. 



3. Year Book of the Department of Agriculture, 1906, p. 197. 



4. Year Book of the Department of Agriculture, 1900, pp. 296- 



297. 



726b. Certhia familiaris montana: Rocky Mountain Creeper. 



Knight said it is a summer resident, but that very little is 

 known of it in the state. The recent records are by Rich- 

 ard, who reports that they are summer residents about Cody 

 and Yellowstone Park. Metz, Peabody, and Blackwelder 

 also reported it. It. is possible that they are winter resi- 

 dents as well, because Walker found it in December in the 

 mountains at 9,100 feet. 



SITTIDAE (Nuthatches). 



The Nuthatches have habits similar to those of the Brown 

 Creeper, except that they do not confine their attentions so exclu- 

 sively to the trunks of the trees. They creep over all the branches, 

 frequently hanging head down. They feed upon insects and their 

 larvae, which are hidden away in the bark. They are most valuable 

 destroyers of insect pests and their habits are very interesting 

 They stay with us all winter long, which makes them the more val- 

 uable. In winter they eat some seeds as well as insects. 



