BROWN CREEPER 227 



its actions were so characteristic of the species that one 

 conld not help noticing the bird. 



"With its habit of always climbing upward — in this 

 respect differing from the Nuthatch — it presented an 

 amusing spectacle in its efforts to get to the suet. The 

 Brown Creeper first flew from a nearby branch and 

 alighted on the food tree, as usual near the ground. Then 

 began an upward climb but each time, on approaching the 

 suet, the journey was stopped by the four-inch broad 

 floor of the little feeding and perching box just beneath 

 the suet. Next came a series of careful, curious experi- 

 ments as to the best course to pursue: first a side or 

 angular climb of a few inches to the edge of the box and 

 back; then an upward climb by the side of an upright 

 board, nailed to the tree as a photographic background. 

 This last maneuver brought the Creeper a foot above the 

 suet and the problem of getting down to it was of equal 

 perplexity as the bird refused to back down, like the 

 Downy Woodpecker. Finally the Creeper flew to a 

 nearby tree and from there, at an angle of forty-five de- 

 grees, skidded through the air like a flying squirrel to the 

 root of the food tree again. This time the upward climb 

 brought the bird to the side next to the camera and to 

 one side of the base-board. From here with a series of 

 delicate steps, so to speak, the suet was reached. The 

 frail, decurved bill pulled off such minute particles as 

 one could hardly imagine. 



All this time I was within a few feet of the bird, 

 but out of reach of the line leading to the camera. I 

 therefore failed to get a picture, though I had a rare 

 experience watching this peculiar bird following its usual 

 food-hunting habits. 



