172 CERTHLUm 



from the tree, and thus affords the view of the nest here 

 given. The nest itself is formed on the outer surface with 

 small twigs, within which there is a thick layer of fine 

 grass mixed up and lined with black wool, and a few small 

 dark-coloured feathers. The Creeper is an early breeder, 

 laving from seven to nine eggs in the month of April : the 

 eggs measure eight lines in length, and five lines and a half 

 in breadth : they are white, with a few pale red spots, 

 often confined to the large end only. The notes of the 

 Creeper are pleasing, and not unlike those of the Gold- 

 Crested Regulus. 



The Creeper is distributed generally over England, and 

 is not a migratory bird, as has been supposed ; Mr. Thomp- 

 son also sends me word that it is resident in certain locali- 

 ties in Ireland. Mr. Selby says it is abundant all the year 

 in Northumberland ; and he has seen it at Blair in Athole, 

 and at Dunkeld. Mr. Macgillivray says it is common 

 about Edinburgh. Miiller includes it in his Birds of Den- 

 mark ; and M. Nilsson says it is not uncommon in Sweden. 

 It is rare in Russia and Siberia ; but is common from Ger- 

 many to Italy and Sicily. 



According to the concurring testimony of Wilson, Prince 

 Charles Bonaparte, Sir William Jardine, Audubon, Nut- 

 tall, and others, our Creeper is found throughout the United 

 States of North America, where it is called the Brown 

 Creeper ; but as this bird was not met with by Sir John 

 Richardson, it is probable that it does not extend its range 

 so far north as the Fur Countries. 



The beak of tliis species is about as long as the head, 

 curved downwards, slender, and pointed ; the upper man- 

 dible dark brown, the lower one pale brownish white : the 

 irides hazel ; over the eye a light-coloured streak ; upper 

 part of the head dark brown, the centre of each feather 

 being pale wood brown ; back dark brown, streaked with 



