204 Brewster on the American Brown Creeper. 



cms, and frequently presented equally good accommodations. Again, 

 in no instance did the tree resorted to retain more than three or 

 four pieces of bark, while oftentimes the scale that sheltered the 

 nest was the only one that remained. The height varied from five 

 to fifteen feet, but this particular was perhaps sometimes determined 

 more by necessity than by any individual preference, as I noticed 

 that when several equally suitable bark-scales occurred on the same 

 tree, the lowest was invariably the one taken. In one such case the 

 nest was so low that I could easily look into it by standing up in 

 my boat. As before indicated, the size and shape of the different 

 structures varied with that of the cavities in which they were placed. 

 When the space between the bark and trunk was very narrow, the 

 foundation of sticks was entirely dispensed with, the nest being then 

 entirely composed of bark. Of the five examples now before me, 

 only two are feather-lined, the remaining three being simply fin- 

 ished with shreds of the reddish iuner fir bark of a somewhat finer 

 quality than those which make up the outer part of the structure. 

 The most striking feature of all is the prolongation of the upper 

 corners, already described. In one extreme specimen these horns 

 rise four inches above the central cup that contains the eggs. They 

 are, perhaps, designed to act as stays or supports, as they are firmly 

 attached to the rough inner surface of the bark which sustains the 

 nest. 



In the article previously referred to, Dr. Brewer, in speaking of 

 the nest found at Taunton, says : " The opening was nearly closed 

 with chips of bark and other substances forming its foundation," etc. 

 From this I infer that the birds entered the nest from beneath or 

 between the bark and the edge of the nest. If this was actually the 

 case, the Taunton nest must have been differently planned from any 

 of my Maine examples, for in all of these the opening beneath was 

 so effectually closed that no bird, however small, could have forced 

 its way in from that direction, and ample opportunities for observa- 

 tion convinced me that the Creepers themselves never attempted to 

 do so. They invariably entered at a point on the side, several inches 

 above the nest and between the edge of the bark-scale and the stem 

 of the tree. In most cases some inequality in the edge of the bark 

 offered a convenient opening ; but I remember one instance where 

 there was only a straight, narrow crack that seemed far too small 

 for any bird to pass through, yet I repeatedly saw the Creeper go in 

 and out without apparent difficulty. 



