52 Tylee, Brown Creeper in Massachusetts. [jan. 



darker male brings dry grass to the nest and goes behind the bark, 

 but he does not add the material to the nest; he waits about. The 

 female returns, adds to the nest the grass she has brought, then 

 takes the grass from the male. Now she is collecting shreds from 

 the inner bark of a dead oak tree, sometimes in her search craw^ling 

 under projecting strips of bark. She often tries to break off tiny 

 twigs by grasping them in her bill and shaking them, — once she 

 hovers in the air in the attempt." 



"May 19, 8:30 a. m. Neither bird seen about the nest. The 

 cup is deep and I see no eggs. I do not dare to feel in the nest for 

 fear of dislodging it." 



" May 20, 3 p. m. One egg in the nest. In the semi-darkness 

 behind the bark the shell appears white and unmarked. The 

 birds are not within hearing." 



"May 21, 4 p. m. The nest contains two eggs. White with 

 pinkish tint. I see no markings." 



"May 22, Noon. A cloudy day. I can see into the nest per- 

 fectly well today; previously the dazzling light has made the cavity 

 seem dark. There are four eggs in the nest. They are spotted 

 with fine brown specks about the larger end." 



"May 24, 3:30 p. m. Six eggs. Female on the nest. When 

 I look in, she flies off, but returns in five minutes. The notes of 

 the female when disturbed are the "ts" and the customary long 

 " Ziiit," — the same notes she used when building her nest and when 

 undisturbed. I believe now that I did not see the full number of 

 eggs until the 22nd, that the first egg was layed on the 19th and 

 that one has been layed each day since." 



"May 28, 7 A. M. A damp cloudy morning, temperature 

 46°, Wind east. The female is on the nest facing the main en- 

 trance. She does not leave when I peek in two feet away. The 

 male Creeper is collecting food; he goes about with a tuft of in- 

 sects in his bill, — he sings even while carrying a good sized tuft. 

 7:40. He comes to the vicinity of the nest and calls; the female 

 joins him, — side by side, heads up, on a tree trunk near the nest 

 he feeds her. She flutters her wings like a young bird asking for 

 food. She returns soon to the nest and the male retires. At 7:45, 

 he returns and, calling "Ziiit," flies to the nest. His mate reaches 

 out and takes food from his bill, — her head appears at main en- 



