

14 THE FAUNA OF MONTANA TERRITORY. 
occasionally through the main Rocky Mountain chain, to 
near the crossing of the Bitterroot, but less common than 
among the cliffs and rocks of the barren plains along their 
eastern slope. Though neither Dr. Suckley nor zy 
found it in the western part of Washington Territory, I have 
no doubt that it frequents parts of the rocky caüons of the 
Columbia Plain, and Nuttall says that he saw it at the "low- 
est falls? (Cascades) of the Columbia (Manual, second edi- 
tion, Vol. I, p. 492). A nest with nine eggs was found in a 
log cabin below Fort Benton. 
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hyemalis). Seen only near 
the summit of the Cœur d’Alefie Mountains, in September. 
CREEPER (Certhia Mexicana). Rather common, especi- 
ally in the dark spruce forests of the Cœur d'Alene Range. 
Habits and note exactly as in the eastern bird (C. Ameri- 
cana). 
LonG-BILLED NurHATCH (Sitta aculeata) and ReD-BELLIED 
Nurnatcn (S. Canadensis). Both common in the Rocky 
Mountains as in the Cascade Range, but rare in the dense 
forests. 
Pigmy NurHaATCH (S. pygmea). Flocks of this little 
bird were met with at intervals from the eastern base of the 
Rocky Mountains, in August, to the Spokan River and Fort 
Colville, frequenting the open woods of pine (Pinus ponder- 
osa), and were more gregarious, lively and noisy, than the = 
preceding, constantly chirping like young chickens, and like z 
them seeking insects more among the leaves than in the. j 
bark. It has also at times a harsh call much like the others. : 
NortHern Titmouse (Parus septentrionalis?, var. albe- — 
scens). I obtained a specimen of this bird on the bank of 
the Missouri within the mountains, and as it is found at Fort 
Bridger, have little doubt of its crossing into Washington — 
Territory, though I did not again recognize it among the - 
many Pari I saw afterwards. The cries and habits of all | 
these black-capped species are so nearly similar, that it re- — 
quires a very near approach to distinguish them. — P 


