126 NORTH AMERICAN IJIRDa 



tiiij^'uished from tlie otlier forms ; when most resembliiij^ losta: in the grayish 

 tints of the up^ier phimage (as in Eiistem examples), the h)\ver parts are less 

 purely white, and the hill and claws smaller; when like it in the projMjrtions 

 and ]>ure white of the h)wer parts (as in Western specimens), the colors ahove 

 are altogetlier more hrown. The yellowish crissum of americanus will 

 also distinguish them. Though often resemhling familiaris in the colors of 

 the uj^per parts, the latter may always be distinguislu^d by its ashy lower 

 parts witliout yellowish crissum, the shorter tail, with its less acute feathers, 

 and stouter bill 



C. mixicaiiHs is still more different in colors, for which see that variety. 



Haiuts. Our common Creeper, so closely resembling the Creeper of Eu- 

 rope as by many to be sujjposed identical with it, is distributed over the 

 whole of Xorth America, from the Gulf of ^lexico to high northern latitudes. 

 At different seasons it may be found in every one of the several States and 

 Territories, yet it is never very abundant. Tlie Smithsonian possesses speci- 

 mens from various parts of the country, from (leorgia to Fort Steilacoom on 

 the Pacific, but of these none appear t(j have been secured during the period 

 of reproiluction. Dr. Heermann found them very common in the more 

 mountainous districts of California. Dr. Cooper found these birds abundant 

 in the forests of Washington Territory, but difficult to detect from the simi- 

 larity of their color to that of the bark over which they crept. They were 

 apparently constant residents in that Territory. Dr. Suckley, who ol)tained 

 several specimens of this species in the oak groves in the vicinity of Fort 

 Steilacoom, states that in their habits the Western bu'ds resemble those of the 

 Atlantic States. 



Mr. Ridgw^ay found this Creeper inhabiting both the pine forests of the 

 Sierra Nevada, where it was tlie more connuon, and also, in winter, among 

 tlie willows of the river vallevs. He did not meet with it east of the Truckee 

 Itiver, nor until he liad reached the Wahsatch ^fountains. 



Dr. Woodhouse found the Brown Creeper generally distributed throughout 

 the Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, and California, and adds that it 

 was esi^cially abundant in the San Francisco ^lountains of Xew^ Mexico. 



Dr. Cooi:>er states that he has met with this form in the winter through- 

 out the higher mountains and among the Coast Range as far south as Santa 

 Cruz. He found them chiefly frecjuenting the coniferous trees, creeping up 

 and down their trunks and branches, searching for insects in their crevices, 

 and so nearly resembling the bark in their general color, that they can be 

 detected only with great difficulty, except when in motion. 



He adds that their notes are shrill and wiry, and are often heard \vhen the 

 bird is scarcely visible, without a careful search, their cry appearing to be 

 from a greater distance than the real performer. In March, Dr. Cooper heard 

 them giving out a faint but sharp-toned song, resembling that of a Wren. 

 If Dr. Cooper is correct in his account of the notes, they do not correspond 

 with those of our Eastern bird. 



