50 
BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 
worthy of so valuable a work. These faults of mechanical execution can, 
however, be easily remedied in a future edition, which we sincerely hope 
.the demand for the work will soon call for. The present volume includes 
the Song-Birds as far as the Corvidce of Dr. Coues’s arrangement, and forms 
a work that no ornithologist can be without, while its popular character 
ought to insure it a wide range of readers. — J. A. A. 
(® literal jisrtejJ. 
Breeding of the Canada Goose in Trees. — Dr. Coues, in his 
“Birds of the Northwest” (p. 554), alludes to the breeding of the Canada 
Goose {Branta canadensis) in trees in “ various parts of the Upper Mis- 
souri and Yellowstone regions.” He refers to the fact as being little known, 
and as not personally verified by himself, though perfectly satisfied of the 
reliability of the accounts furnished him by various persons, including 
Mr. J. Stevenson of Dr. Hayden’s Survey. Dr. Coues further adds that 
he found the circumstance to be a matter of common information among 
the residents of Montana Territory. “ The birds,” he says, “ are stated to 
build in the heavy timber along the larger streams, and to transport their 
young to the water in their bills.” 
The fact of the breeding of the Canada Goose in trees is further con- 
firmed by Captain Charles Bendire, who reports its breeding in this man- 
ner near Camp Harney, under, however, rather peculiar circumstances. 
In a letter dated Camp Harney, Oregon, A]Dril 24, 1876, Captain Bendire 
writes as follows : “ The season is very backward, and scarcely any of the 
small species of birds have commenced to build yet. The water is very 
high, and the whole lower Harney valley is flooded. The Western Can- 
ada Geese seem to have anticipated such a state of affairs, as last year I 
did not see a single nest of theirs off the ground, while this spring all of 
them, as far as I have observed personally or have heard of through others, 
are built in trees off the ground, mostly in willows. Some make use of 
Herons’ nests, and one of a Eaven’s nest, the only Eaven’s nest I found 
last year in a tree.” Apropos of this change of habit with circumstances. 
Captain Bendire asks the pertinent question, “ Is it instinct or reason I” — 
J. A. Allen. 
Tarsal Envelope in Campylorhtnchus and allied Genera. — 
Impressed with certain differences observable between typical Wrens and 
the three Western genera, Campylorhynchus, Salpinctes, and Catherpes, gen- 
erally assigned to the Troglodytidce, I have been led to look into the tech- 
nical aspects of the case, with the result of becoming dissatisfied with the 
alleged position of these forms among the Wrens. In establishing the 
