No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. I73 



Family CERTHIID.^. Creepers. 



Certhia familiaris americana Bonaparte. Brown Creeper. 



A tolerably common winter resident from October to April; 

 most common in October, but wintering regularly in small 

 numbers. 



Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 22, 1903, 1904 ; Portland, 

 Oct. 2, 1893; Litchfield, Sept. 19, 1906 (E. S. W.). 



Latest record. New Haven, May 7, 1888; "Portland, April 

 27, 1907; Danbury, April 28, 1907 (J. C. A. M.) ; East Hartford, 

 May 7, 1892 (W. E. T.). 



Family SITTID^. Nuthatches. 



Sitta carolinensis carolinensis Latham. White-breasted 

 Nuthatch. 



A tolerably common resident, but less common than formerly 

 in southern Connecticut. 



Nest. In a hole, at least partially excavated by the birds them- 

 selves, in the trunk of a large tree in the woods at from 25 to 30 

 feet from the ground. 



Eggs. 5-9; early in May. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. April 21, 1890, five eggs 

 (J. H. S.). Latest record. May 30, 1877, six eggs (J. H. S.). 



A set of eight eggs taken. May 13, 1902 (Hill) ; a set of nine 

 eggs taken in Jewett City, May 19, 1884 (C. E. Prior) .^ 



Sitta canadensis Linnaeus. Red-breasted Nuthatch. 



A common fall and rare spring migrant, and an irregular 

 winter resident; most abundant in October. 



Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, March 24, 

 1902; Portland, March 14, 1893, 1900. Latest record. New 

 Haven, April i, 1896, April 27, 1888 (L. B. W.) ; Portland, May 

 10, 1893. 



Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 27, 1903 ; 

 Portland, Sept. 4, 1908. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 4, 

 1903, Nov. 28, 1906 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, Oct. 18, 1888. 



Winter records. New Haven, Feb. 22, 1894, Feb. 10, Dec. 

 ID, 1896, Jan. 24, Feb. 6, 16, 21, 1900, Jan. 15, Dec. 30, 1902, 



10. and O., ix, 8. p. loo. 



