126 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tinguished from the other forms ; wlien most resembling cosfxe iu the grayish 

 tints of the upper phimage (as iu Eastern examples), the lower j)arts are less 

 purely white, and the bill and claws smaller ; when like it in the projjortions 

 and pure white of the lower parts (as in Western specimens), the colors above 

 are altogether more brown. The yellowish crissum of americnnus will 

 also distinguish them. Though often resembling J'amiliaris in the colors of 

 tlie upper parts, the latter may ahvaj's be distinguislied by its ashy lower 

 parts without yellowish crissum, the shorter tail, with its less acute feather.?, 

 and stouter bill. 



C. mexicanus is still more different in colors, for wliich see that variety. 



Habits. Our common Creeper, so closely resembling the Creeper of Eu- 

 rope as by many to be supposed identical with it, is distributed over the 

 whole of Xorth America, from the Gulf of Mexico to liigh northern latitudes. 

 ^Vt diflerent seasons it may be found in every one of the several States and 

 Territories, yet it is never very abundant. The Smithsonian possesses speci- 

 mens from various parts of the country, from Georgia to Fort Steilacoom on 

 tlie Pacific, but of these none appear to have been secured during the period 

 of reproduction. Dr. Heermann found them very common in the more 

 mountainous districts of California. Dr. Cooper found these birds abundant 

 ill tlie forests of Washington Territory, but difficult to detect from the simi- 

 larity of their color to tliat of tlie bark over which they cre]it. They were 

 a])i)arently constant residents in that Territory. Dr. Suekley, who obtained 

 several specimens of this species in the oak groves in the vicinity of Fort 

 Steilacoom, states that in their habits the Western bii-ds resemble those of the 

 Atlantic States. 



Mr. Eidgway found this Creeper inliabiting V)otli the pine forests of the 

 Sierra Nevada, where it was tlie more common, and also, in winter, among 

 the willows of the river valleys. He did not meet with it east of tlie Truckee 

 River, nor until he had reached the Wahsatch Mountains. 



Dr. Woodliouse found the Brown Creeper generally distriliuted throughout 

 the Indian Territory, Texas, Xew Mexico, and California, and adds that it 

 was especially abundant in the San Francisco Mountains of Xew Mexico. 



Dr. Cooper states that he has met with this form in the winter through- 

 out the higher mountains and among the Coast Range as far south as Santa 

 Cruz. He found them chiefly fiwpienting the coniferous trees, creeping up 

 and down their trunks and branches, searching for insects in their crevices, 

 und so nearly resembling the bark in their general color, that they can be 

 detected only with great difficulty, except when in motion. 



He adds that their notes are shrill and wiry, and are often lieard wlien the 

 bird is scarcely visible, without a careful search, tlieir cr}' ap])caring to be 

 from a greater distance than the real performer. In March, Dr. Cooper heard 

 them giving out a faint but sharp-toned song, resembling that of a Wren. 

 If Dr. Cooper is correct in his account of the notes, they do not correspond 

 with those of our Eastern bird. 



