THE BROWN CREEPER. 



LITTLE mite of a bird is 

 this pretty creature, which 

 many observers claim is 

 seldom seen, or, indeed, is 

 known to few besides the 

 special student of ornithology and the 

 collector. We venture to assert that 

 any one with fairly good eyes can see 

 it almost any day creeping over the 

 timber in search of its insect food. 

 Besides seeing it in the deepest woods, 

 we often notice it in the open places 

 in parks, and in gardens and orchards 

 it is quite common. It commences 

 operations at the foot of a tree, and 

 travels upwards in short stages, " now 

 stopping to pick out an insect lurking 

 in the crevices of the bark with its 

 long, slender bill, or returning head 

 downwards to pounce on an unwary 

 fly. Up again it creeps, more like 

 a mouse than a bird, occasionally 

 uttering a low and plaintive note; 

 right to the top of the tree it mounts, 

 exploring every nook and cranny 

 likely to reward its search as it goes. 

 Now it creeps on the under side of a 

 projecting limb, then again on the top, 

 and although it will explore an entire 

 tree, still it but rarely uses its wings to 

 convey it from one part to another. 

 You will also find that it, like the 

 Woodpecker, endeavors to be on the 

 opposite side to you, and carry on its 



explorations unseen." Curiosity, how- 

 ever, often seems to get the better of 

 the Creeper, and you will see its light 

 colored breast and sharp little head 

 peep trustfully at you and again vanish 

 from sight. 



The Creeper is admirably adapted 

 to its ways of life. Its bill is formed 

 for obtaining its insect food, and its 

 tail supports it while climbing. 



The Brown Creeper nests in early 

 summer, when insect life is most abun- 

 dant, and, like the Woodpecker, prefers 

 a hole for the purpose. This it lines 

 with dry grass, moss and feathers, and 

 makes a very warm and comfortable 

 home. The eggs are from five to eight, 

 white, spotted and speckled with red. 

 The Creeper is not migratory, and we 

 see it in the woods throughout the year. 

 It is hardy and lives sumptuously the 

 winter through. One who was very fond 

 of the little creatures said : "If the 

 Swallow were to visit us at this time, 

 it would undoubtedly perish, for the 

 air in winter is almost clear of insect 

 life ; but the little Creeper can live in 

 ease when the sun is at Capricorn, just 

 because he can climb so dexterously, 

 for the bark of trees abounds with in- 

 sects, and more particularly their eggs 

 and larvae, which lie there torpid until 

 called into life by the genial presence 

 of the vernal sun." 



215 



