128 NORTH AMKKICAN BIRDS. 



witli a pistol loaded with tlie finest shot. Its mate could have been secured, 

 as she persisted in pursuing them, but she was not molested. Throughout 

 there was not a trace of timidity on the part of eitlier bird, but tlie most 

 reckless and daring devotion. 



Besides the single call-note or the sharp outcry with \\'hich the Creepers 

 signaUze their movements, and which they utter from tinu' to time as they 

 rapidly and busily move u]) and ddwn the trunks and limbs, or flit from tree 

 to tree, they have been gcmeraUy regarded as having no song. But this is not 

 the fact. Tiie earefid obserxations of Mr. William Brewster of Camlirid^e 

 have satisfied him that these birds have a very distinct and varied song. Dur- 

 ing the winter these liirds are not uncommon in the vicinity of Bo.ston, comin" 

 about the liouses with all tlie tameness and confidence of the Parus atricapil- 

 lus, and permit a very near approach. They are very easily attracted by sus- 

 pending IVom a piazza a piece of fat meat. Mr. Brewster has observed them 

 commence singing as early as the 14tli ol' March. Their notes are varied 

 and warbling and somewhat confused ; some of them are loud, powerful, and 

 surpassingly sweet, others are more feeble and plaintive ; their song usually 

 enils with their accustomed cry, which may be represented by cree-cree- 

 cre-ep. j\lr. Brewster, liesides repeatedly hearing them sing in Massacliusetts 

 in tlie early spring, has also listened to tlieir song in Maine in tlie month of 

 June. 



Tlieir eggs are small in proportion to the size of the bird, are nearly o\al 

 in shape, with a grayish-white ground, sparingly sprinkled with small, line, 

 red and reddish-brown spots. They measure .55 by .4:i of an inch. 



Certhia familiaris, \ar mexicana, Clog. 



MEXICAN CREEPER. 



Ccrthifi mexicana, " Glooeh, Ilandbuch," Reichen'BACH, Haiidbuch, I, 1853, 265, pi. 

 dl.\ii, figs. 3841, 3842. — Sclatee, P. Z. S. 1856, 290; 1858, 297; 1859, 362, 372. 

 — Salvin, Ibis, 1866, 190 (Volcan de Fuego, Guat.). — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 

 373 (under C americana), pi. l.\.\.xiii, fig. 2 ; Review, 90. 



Sp. Char. Ground-color above very dark sepia-brown, each feather with a .sharply 

 defined medial streak of grayi.«h-white, these streaks becoming broader posteriorly, where 

 thej' are discontinued at the beginning of the rump. Whole rump and upper tail-coverts 

 chestnut-rufou.s. Beneath pale a.shy, becoming almost white on the throat; crissal feath- 

 ers deep ochraceous e.xcept at the tips, which are whitish. Markings of the wings as 

 usual. Measurements (8176, Mexico) : wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.70 ; bill (from nostril), .48 ; 

 hind claw, .30. 



Hab. Guatemala and Mexico ; probabl}' extending along the table-lands into the 

 United States. 



This is one of the best marked of the variotis races that have been dis- 

 cussed (see p. 124). The ground-color of the upper parts is altogether darker 

 than in any of the others, and the streaks are more sharply defined and nar- 



