1924] Swarth : Birds and Mammals of the Skeena River Region 367 



Troglodytes aedon parkmani Audubon. Western House Wren 



An adult male (no. 42561) was collected in Kispiox Valley on 

 July 2, the only one seen during the summer. It had the appearance 

 of a breeding bird. This is considerably farther north than the species 

 has heretofore been found in British Columbia. 



Nannus hiemalis pacificus (Baird). Western Winter Wren 



Breeding in dense spruce woods on the higher slopes of Nine-mile 

 Mountain. Young out of the nest were seen July 30, and the same 

 day an adult was encountered that was carrying feathers as though 

 engaged in nest building. Winter wrens appeared in the lowlands at 

 the end of the summer. First noted in Kispiox Valley on September 

 10 ; others were seen at intervals diu-ing the rest of the month. Three 

 specimens collected (nos. 42562-42564), an adult and two juveniles 

 from Nine-mile Mountain. 



Certhia familiaris occidentalis Kidgway. Tawny Creeper 



One in juvenal plumage taken on Nine-mile Mountain, July 29 ; 

 on August 28 a creeper was seen in Kispiox Valley. These are all 

 that were noted during the summer. The specimen collected (no. 

 42565) is nearest C. f. occidentalis in appearance, though not so 

 reddish above as extremes of that subspecies. 



Sitta canadensis Linnaeus. Red-breasted Nuthatch 



Breeds in small numbers in the lowlands and more abundantly at 

 high altitudes. On Nine-mile Mountain some were seen daily in the 

 hemlock forest just below timber line. A nest was found in Kispiox 

 Valley, placed in a dead stub at the edge of rather dense poplar woods. 

 The stub was perhaps four or five inches in diameter at the base, and 

 was broken off about twenty feet from the ground. The nest hole 

 was near the top and was about one and one-half inches in diameter. 

 On July 12 it contained at least two young birds, nearly ready to fly, 

 whose heads could be seen protruding from the opening. They called 

 incessantly, uttering the characteristic nasal yang of the species until 

 either parent appeared, when this was' changed to a hissing and 

 squalling, like most other young birds appealing for food. 



In August and September red-breasted nuthatches became fairly 

 common in the lowlands, frequently seen in company with chickadees, 

 kinglets, or migrating warblers. One specimen collected (no. 42566), 

 an adult male taken in Kispiox Valley, July 2. 



