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I2t] 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. ¥irst noted in Kispiox Valley on September
10; others were seen at intervals during the rest of the month. Three
specimens collected (nos. 42562-42564), an adult and two juveniles
from Nine-mile Mountain.

Certhia familiaris occidentalis Ridgway. Tawny Creeper
One in juyenal plumage taken on Nine-mile Mountain, July 29;
on August 28 a ereeper 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 ealled
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 Angust 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.

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