BIRDS OF COLORADO. 121 



out its range, yet in Colorado, it breeds much more commonly 

 in the mountains than on the plains. Arrives on the plains 

 the last of April and in the mountains the middle of May. 

 Breeds from the plains to 10,000 feet. Raises two broods and 

 often three. Laying begins the first of June and continues 

 until late in July. Comes down from the mountains in Septem- 

 ber and soon after leaves the State. 



722. Troglodytes hiemalis. Winter Wren. 



Resident ; rare. Has been noted but a few times in Colo- 

 rado. The honor of including it among the breeders of the 

 State belongs to Prof. C. P. Gillette of Fort Collins who found 

 several July 7, 1896, in the mountains thirty miles west of Fort 

 Collins at an altitude of 8,000 feet. They were in company with 

 astecus. Though no nests were found, they were evidently 

 breeding at the time. Later in the same season the present 

 writer saw several birds along the Big Thompson in Estes 

 Park at about 7,000 feet. One was taken in Denver October 

 13, 1891, by Mr. H. G. Smith. (Nidologist III. 1896-7, 76.) 



725a. Cistothorus palustris paludicola. Tule Wren. 



Summer resident; not uncommon, locally. Rather more 

 common in southern Colorado than northern, and more common 

 at the base of the foothills than farther east on the plains. 

 Arrives usually the last of April, but Prof. Wm. Osburn writes 

 that he took two unusually early migrants at Loveland in March, 

 1889. Laying begins about the middle of June. Breeds on the 

 plains and up to 8,000 feet. Remains in the State until late in 

 September. Mr. A. A. Bennett writes that he has seen them 

 in Routt County in January. There are some hot water swamps, 

 and the Wrens stay in them all winter. 



726b. Certhia familiaris montana. Rocky Mountain 



Creeper. 



Resident; common. In migration and during the winter 

 occurs on the plains, where typical montana has been taken by 

 Capt. P. M. Thorne as far east as Fort Lyon. At the same 

 time it is also found at timber-line where it is resident all the 

 year. The center of abundance during the winter is from 7,000 

 to 9,000 feet. During the breeding season it is confined to the 

 immediate vicinity of timber-line and is there quite plentiful. 

 Leaves the plains in April and breeds in June. 



727. Sitta carolinensis. White-breasted Nuthatch. 



Resident; not common. The A. O. U. Check List gives 

 the geographical distribution of the typical form as "west to 

 the Rocky Mountains," while aculeata is given as coming "east 

 to the plains." Thus the two forms would intermingle in east- 



