BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
I 2 I 
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- 
