BROWN TREE-CREEPER. 39 



half twelfths of an inch in length, five-twelfths in breadth, of 

 a regular ovate form, glossy, white, sprinkled with dots and 

 small patches of brownish-red, often disposed in a broad belt 

 near the larger end, and leaving the narrower half unspotted. 

 Montagu states that " during the time of incubation, the fe- 

 male is fed by the other sex, whenever she quits her nest in 

 search of food." The young are abroad by the middle of June, 

 and I have reason to think that a second brood is frequently 

 reared. 



Although the e])iih.et familiar has been given to this little 

 bird, it cannot be said to deserve it, for its seeming familiarity 

 results merely from its close attention to the objects of its search, 

 and the moment it becomes sensible of the proximity of a per- 

 son it glides out of his sight. Of all our native birds, the 

 Robin is that which reposes most confidence in man. It will 

 often stand, looking at him, until he approaches within two or 

 three yards, and even then exhibit little alarm ; nay, it will 

 sometimes enter his dwelling, and seem quite at home there. 

 But the Creeper is in no sense a familiar bird. 



This species is generally distributed over Europe, as well as 

 North America. I have compared specimens from both con- 

 tinents, and found them in all respects similar ; Mr Audubon 

 is of the same opinion ; yet the Prince of Musignano, without 

 assigning a reason, or giving distinctive characters, chooses to 

 consider the American bird as a species different from the 

 European. 



Young. — The young when fledged are similar to their pa- 

 rents, but with the feathers more loose, and the colours duller. 



